A powerful winter storm is sweeping across the United States, bringing snow, ice, and widespread travel disruptions to major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Scranton, and Washington, D.C. The massive system, which started in Southern California, has traveled coast to coast, unleashing dangerous weather conditions across the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and Northeast.

Freezing rain, heavy snowfall, and icy roads have led to hazardous driving conditions, flight cancellations, and power outages in several states. With cold air moving in from Canada, the storm is expected to transition to snow in many areas, particularly north of I-95. Officials have issued winter weather advisories and are urging residents to prepare for continued disruptions as the storm makes its final push across the country.

Coast-to-Coast Storm Brings Snow, Ice, and Travel Chaos Across the US

A powerful winter storm, which started in Southern California last weekend, is making its final push across the country, bringing widespread rain, freezing rain, and snow from the Midwest to the Northeast.

Widespread Rain and Wintry Weather

The storm is delivering heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across the northern Gulf Coast, while colder air is fueling pockets of freezing rain in parts of Pennsylvania and New York. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory until 3 p.m. ET, warning of hazardous road conditions due to ice accumulation.

As temperatures rise later in the morning, the freezing rain threat will diminish. However, a cold front moving in from Canada will transition parts of the Northeast to snow, mostly north of I-95. While accumulations will be minor—only a couple of inches at most—slick roads may still impact travel.

Winter Storm Blair’s Deadly Impact

Meanwhile, Winter Storm Blair has wreaked havoc across large parts of the U.S., bringing frigid temperatures, heavy snowfall, and dangerous conditions. At least five deaths have been reported as a result of the storm, with states of emergency declared in Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, and Maryland.

Among the hardest-hit areas:

• Kansas City, Missouri saw a staggering 10 inches of snow on Sunday night.
• Louisville, Kentucky recorded its largest single-day snowfall in 25 years.
• The Mid-Atlantic region, which hasn’t seen this level of snowfall in over a decade, is struggling with icy roads and power outages.

The storm’s freezing conditions have left over 214,000 customers without power across Kentucky, Indiana, and Virginia, while nearly 3,000 flights have been canceled nationwide. Major airports, including Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington National, have been significantly impacted.

Travel Disruptions and Safety Warnings

With over 1,800 motorists stranded and hundreds of crashes reported, authorities are urging residents to limit travel. In Missouri alone, state highway patrols responded to 436 accidents due to hazardous road conditions.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser have mobilized resources, with more than 200 snow plows working overnight to clear roads and school closures already in place for Tuesday.

The Storm’s Next Move

As the system moves off into the Atlantic early Saturday morning, cold temperatures will linger, affecting nearly half of the U.S. population in the coming week. Some areas could see up to 4 feet of snow, while regions from Texas to Kentucky face a flooding threat with up to 7 inches of rain expected.

The National Weather Service continues to urge residents to stay indoors, stock up on essentials, and prepare for lingering cold. With climate change contributing to more extreme weather events, storms like Winter Storm Blair highlight the urgent need for improved infrastructure and preparedness.

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