Tens of millions of people across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic are under winter weather warnings this weekend in the first major winter storm of the new year, according to the National Weather Service, producing hazardous travel conditions, multiple days of heavy snow and ice and potentially record-setting low temperatures.

Temperatures are forecast to drop significantly in Washington, D.C. into next week. (Photo by Kent … [+] Nishimura/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

The storm first impacted the Central Plains—including parts of Kansas and Missouri—late Saturday, and is expected to move across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys Sunday, before tracking into the Mid-Atlantic states by Sunday night, hitting much of Virginia, the Washington, D.C., region and parts of the Philadelphia metro area.

A wide swath of the country stretching from central Kansas to parts of Maryland could accumulate more than eight inches of snow between Sunday and Tuesday morning, according to the NWS, which noted some hard-hit areas of Kansas and Missouri may see over 15 inches—“the heaviest in a decade.”

The NWS has also issued a blizzard warning across much of central Kansas into southeastern Nebraska and northwestern Missouri, including the Kansas City area, with wind gusts exceeding 40 mph in parts of the region.

Significant icing and freezing rain potential is forecast for central Kansas through the central Appalachians into Monday, and is expected to bring widespread tree damage and power outages, with some parts potentially experiencing more than half an inch of ice accumulation.

The snow is expected to largely wind down by Tuesday morning, the NWS says.

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What States And Cities Will Be Most Impacted By The Winter Storm?

At least eight inches of snow is forecast for southern Nebraska, much of Kansas, northern Missouri, central Illinois, southern Indiana, southern Ohio, northeastern West Virginia, southwestern Pennsylvania, the southern tip of Virginia, northern Maryland, Washington, D.C., and the Syracuse region in New York. Major metro areas under blizzard or winter storm warnings include Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, D.C., Baltimore and the southern reaches of the Philadelphia area (though the city of Philadelphia itself is under a winter weather advisory).

Will Travel Be Impacted By The Winter Storm?

Yes. The NWS said in a statement Sunday that travel could be “extremely hazardous” in areas with heavy snow or significant icing, with some areas facing “impassable” roads.

Where Are Flights Delayed Or Cancelled Due To The Storm?

Some 870 U.S. flights have been cancelled Sunday and another 1,653 face delays, according to FlightAware data as of Sunday morning. The hardest-hit airports are in Kansas City and St. Louis, where more than half of departures have been cancelled. Another 27% of flights out of Cincinnati’s airport have been cancelled Sunday, along with 21% of flights from Louisville, 12% of flights from Indianapolis and 51% of flights from Wichita, Kansas.

Has Amtrak Cancelled Trains?

Amtrak canceled dozens of Acela and Northeast Regional trains serving the northeastern United States on Sunday evening and Monday, with trains between New York, D.C. and Virginia especially hard-hit. More than a dozen other trains serving the Midwest—including routes connecting Chicago to St. Louis and Kansas City—were also cancelled on Sunday.

Surprising Fact

The cold temperatures accompanying the storm could produce the coldest January in the U.S. since 2011, according to AccuWeather expert Paul Pastelok, who noted the storm’s arctic outbreak will “involve many days and not just be a quick one-to-three-day event.”

Key Background

NOAA’s winter outlook issued in October predicted fair to likely chances for above average seasonal temperatures this winter in the southwest, south and eastern U.S. It also predicted wetter-than-average conditions for the northern half of the continental U.S. and drier-than-average conditions from much of the southwest to the southeast, Gulf Coast and lower Mid-Atlantic regions. The forecasts follow the warmest fall experienced in the U.S. in NOAA’s 130-year climate record, with the average fall temperature reaching 57.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which was 4.1 degrees above average.

Further Reading

U.S. Winter Outlook: Warmer and drier South, wetter North (NOAA)

Fall 2024 was nation’s warmest on record (NOAA)