The first major winter storm of the year swept through the U.S. mid-Atlantic on Monday, shutting down federal offices and public schools in Washington, D.C., after dumping up to a foot of
snow in parts of the Ohio Valley and Central Plains.
By 8 a.m., the nation’s capital had received about five inches of snow, with some areas in Maryland and Virginia reporting up to eight inches, according to the National Weather Service. Snowfall was expected to persist through the day before the system moved out to sea by Monday evening.
Widespread Disruptions and Emergency Declarations
Officials across the storm's path warned of severe travel disruptions and urged residents to stay off the roads. States of emergency were declared in Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland.
In the storm's aftermath, Arctic air swept in, bringing freezing rain and icy conditions from Illinois to the Atlantic coast. The frigid temperatures are forecast to linger throughout the week, with parts of Kansas experiencing wind chills as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.
Record Snowfall and Power Outages
Kansas City recorded 11 inches of snow, marking its largest single-storm total in over 30 years, according to the National Weather Service. Missouri State Police reported over 1,000 stranded motorists and 356 crashes, including one fatality.
Power outages affected more than 330,000 homes and businesses across the central and southern U.S., according to PowerOutage.us.
Flight Cancellations and Amtrak Delays
Travel disruptions extended to the skies, with over 1,600 U.S. flights canceled by midday Monday, per FlightAware.com. Amtrak canceled dozens of trains along the busy Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington.
While crews worked to clear snow from the three major D.C. airports—Reagan National, Baltimore/Washington International, and Dulles—many flights were delayed or canceled.
Schools and Federal Offices Closed
Hundreds of schools, including those in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Washington, and Philadelphia, announced closures in advance of the storm. The Office of Personnel Management confirmed that federal offices in Washington would remain closed, though Congress was set to convene as scheduled to certify Donald Trump’s election as president.
The storm marked a dramatic start to the year, with officials and residents bracing for continued frigid conditions in its wake. Photo by User OHWiki, Wikimedia commons.
