Winter weather Jan. 6, 2025: Heavy snow and ice create deadly roadways across the U.S.
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A huge swath of the U.S. was blasted with ice, snow and wind on Monday as the polar vortex that dipped south over the weekend kept much of the country east of the Rockies in its frigid grip, making many roads treacherous, forcing school closures, and causing widespread power outages and flight cancellations.
What we’re following today:
- Latest forecasts: The eastern two-thirds of the U.S. is experiencing dangerous, bone-chilling cold and wind chills, forecasters said. Temperatures could be 12 to 25 degrees (7 to 14 degrees Celsius) below normal.
- School closings: Districts in Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas canceling or delaying the start of classes Monday. Among them was Kentucky’s Jefferson County Public Schools, which canceled classes and other school activities for its nearly 100,000 students.
- Dangerous road conditions: As of mid-morning Monday, there were over 250 crashes and 270 reports of vehicles sliding off roadways in Indiana alone. Similar numbers were reported in Virginia.
- Flight delays: The storm has caused thousands of flights to be canceled or delayed, especially around the nation’s capital.
A third person has died in a storm-related traffic accidents
A fatal accident in North Carolina is being blamed on the winter storm that’s moving through the East Coast.
Police in Winston-Salem say a vehicle lost control on an icy overpass along U.S. Route 52 and hit several trees early Monday. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
At least two other people have died in weather-related traffic accidents in Virginia and West Virginia. The accidents were among hundreds reported across Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky.