Major winter storm threatens parts of the central U.S. with snow, ice, blizzards

Winter storm sweeps central U.S., bringing snow, ice, and plunging temperatures, prompting warnings and emergency declarations across states.

A major, disruptive winter storm was sweeping across the central U.S. on Sunday (January 5, 2025), forecasters said, bringing with it a dreaded combination of snow, ice and plunging temperatures.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri — where blizzard conditions are expected — to New Jersey.

In the two states where blizzard warnings were in effect, travel “could be very difficult to impossible,” with snow whipped around by high winds reducing visibility, the NWS said. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.

“Do not travel unless necessary!” the NWS said.

The polar vortex of ultra-cold air usually stays penned up around the North Pole, spinning like a top. But sometimes it escapes or stretches down to the U.S., Europe or Asia — and that’s when large numbers of people experience intense doses of cold.

Studies show a fast-warming Arctic gets some of the blame for the increase in polar vortex stretching or wandering.

By Saturday (January 4, 2025) evening, widespread heavy snow was likely between central Kansas and Indiana, especially along and north of Interstate 70. Part of the interstate was closed in central Kansas by the afternoon. Total snow and sleet accumulations for parts of Kansas and northern Missouri were predicted to be as high as 14 inches (35.6 centimeters).