On Wednesday, a major winter storm that swept through the United States brought rain, snow, and freezing rain to the region. Airlines cancelled thousands of flights and officials advised residents to avoid roads. Schools were closed.
A blast of cold weather arrived Tuesday night and put many states, from New Mexico to Colorado to Maine, under winter storm watches and warnings. On Wednesday morning, Oklahoma and Kansas, Missouri and Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Indiana saw freezing rain and sleet.
Some places reported snow accumulations of more than a foot by Wednesday afternoon, including Lewistown in central Illinois with 14.4 inches (36.6 cmimeters) or Hannibal in northeast Missouri with 11.5 inches (29.2 centimeters).
Andrew Orrison, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in College Park (Maryland), stated that “it’s still snowing across those areas.”
According to Andrew Orrison, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in College Park (Maryland), central Illinois and northern Indiana were likely to see the most snowfall. The expected amounts ranged from 12 to 18 inches (30-45 centimeters) by Thursday.
Missouri had seen snow begin to recede by the afternoon, but a large portion of the state could see 8 to 10 inches (20 to 30 cm) of snow. Some parts of Michigan could also see snow accumulations up to a foot by Thursday.
Elisha Waldman, his sons, and Chicago’s snowman, welcomed Wednesday’s opportunity to hit the sledding hill.
Waldman stated that “Cold and Wet is Wonderful, and Getting Cold and Wet is Part of the Fun with the Guys, and we get to Go Inside and Have Hot Cocoa and Warm Up.”
Tony Haley, a resident of Detroit’s west suburbs, also discovered an advantage in the weather. Tony Haley owns a landscaping company and irrigation company. However, the early winter months presented few business opportunities.
After clearing snow from many Canton businesses, Haley stated, “This one here,”
However, heavy snow made it dangerous for motorists.
“We are getting a lot of snow here in northwest Indiana, and it’s that wet, slushy stuff that makes driving treacherous,” Indiana State Police Sergeant. Glen Fifield spoke to WFLD-TV.
After a collision made Interstate 70 impassible, officials in central Missouri shut down a portion of the highway at noon.
The heavy snow areas south of them were likely to experience freezing rain. The thickest ice was predicted to be in the lower Ohio Valley, from Louisville, Kentucky to Memphis, Tennessee.
“If everything stays the same, this is the real deal,” declared Kentucky Governor. Andy Beshear ordered the closing of state government offices on Thursday. It is dangerous. It is important to be prepared.”
Groundhog Day was the day that the disruptive storm moved through the central U.S., and it also happened on the same day Punxsutawney Ph had predicted six more weeks worth of winter. This storm happened after a nor’easter that brought blizzard conditions across much of the East Coast.
Nearly a year ago, Texas was hit by a severe storm that swept through the region. Its path coincided with the catastrophic freeze that caused the grid to become immobile , resulting in the worst blackout in American history. Although the forecast didn’t call for the same long-term and frigid temperatures that the February 2021 storm in Texas,and National Weather Service stated that the system would not be as severe this time around.
According to poweroutage.us, no large-scale power outages had been reported in Texas by Wednesday afternoon.
Colorado Springs saw snowfall of 22 inches (56 cm) and Denver, Colorado Springs saw 10 inches (25 cm) and more. The Legislature, universities and state government offices were forced to close.
According to flight tracking service FlightAware.com, nearly 5,000 U.S. flights were cancelled on Wednesday and Thursday. More flights were cancelled at Denver International Airport than usual by airports in St. Louis and Chicago, Kansas City, Detroit, and Kansas City.
Southwest Airlines announced Tuesday, in an effort to keep up with the weather conditions, that all flights would be suspended Wednesday at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and Thursday at Dallas Love Field hub.
The National Weather Service forecasters in Little Rock added their own twist to the Groundhog Day tradition by using a photo of their office cat Tarmac and the caption: “SHADOWS ALLWHERE!” THE WINTER SNOW IS HERE!