A powerful blizzard is sweeping across several US states, affecting the lives of more than 60 million Americans. Some governors have declared states in states of emergency, while others have issued appeals on social media for people to stay home.
A blizzard of sleet, snow and freezing winds from the Arctic is battering the United States from Saturday through Monday, Jan. 6. More than 60 million people are in the path of the 1,500-mile (2,400-kilometer) blizzard, which is sweeping from the central to the eastern United States, as it cuts a swath across the country, according to a National Weather Service advisory.
The National Weather Service predicted that with temperatures dropping to -18 degrees Celsius and freezing rain, roads would become dangerous ravines as the snow hardened, causing severe slippage and making driving difficult. Combined with strong winds, the situation would be even more dangerous. Some lowland areas experienced the heaviest snowfall in 10 years. What authorities are most concerned about is the impact of the blizzard on power grids. Power outages are a serious threat to residents who rely on electricity for heating during the blizzard. The governors of Virginia, Missouri and Kentucky have declared states of emergency and urged residents to stay indoors.
In New York and Pennsylvania, ice could reach more than 6 feet. Washington, D.C., was also blanketed in unusually thick snow that could snarl traffic, and the confirmation process for Donald Trump in Congress was disrupted as the Republican leader in the House advised delegates to stay home.
The first blizzard of 2025 also forced the closure of Kansas City International Airport on Saturday. American Airlines has issued an emergency message to customers, saying 46 airports are experiencing flight disruptions due to the ice storm.
For scientists, extreme weather events are only going to get more frequent and more severe because humans are causing climate change.
