The First Significant Winter Storm of the Year in the Midwest, and a State of Emergency, are expected to hit the Mid-Atlantic
The first weekend of the season in 2025 will be the warmest on the weekends, according to the National Weather Service. The first significant winter storm of the year will impact 62 million people starting Saturday afternoon and continuing into Monday.
“The major winter storm will bring significant disruptions to the Central Plains by late Saturday, spreading to the Ohio Valley on Sunday,” the NWS said.
Travel delays are likely as the storm is forecast to reach the mid-Atlantic by Sunday night. Severe thunderstorms are expected in areas with warmer temperatures. The storm could also impact Texas and Mississippi, which are still recovering from last month’s deadly storms.
Officials have already begun preparing for the worst. On Friday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson put the National Guard on standby, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia declared a state of emergency. Youngkin has urged people to avoid traveling on Sunday.
“I’m encouraging all Virginians, visitors, and travelers to stay alert, monitor the weather forecast, and prepare now for any potential impacts,” Youngkin said in a statement.
The NWS Weather Prediction Center said that the most extreme conditions will likely be found in places along the interstate 70 corridor.
There is also “significant icing potential” in the mid-South this weekend, according to forecasters. Icing is when rain falls on the ground. It can also affect cars and car windows — essentially any surface outside.
A thin layer of ice can cause dangerous road conditions for vehicles and pedestrians. Thicker layers of ice can cause power outages and make roads impassable. Thousands of people were without power and first responders were not able to get to people who needed help during the ice storm.
The storm is expected to cause a quarter to a half inch of freezing rain in the Ohio Valley region, including Illinois, Indiana and Missouri.
How Do You Prepare for a Weather Event in Kansas? – State Patrol Public Information Officer Ben Gardner: “Asking for help”
Across Kansas there have been “at least 212 calls of service where troopers were responding somewhere to help someone” between 6:00 a.m. Saturday and midnight Sunday morning, according to Trooper Ben Gardner, public information officer for the Kansas Highway Patrol, who goes by Trooper Ben. There has also been “at least one fatality crash” the Kansas Highway Patrol has responded to, Ben tells NPR.
“KDOT’s out here trying to get the roadways cleared, salting and blading the roadways, and we will continue to do so as the storm moves through our state,” he says.
Ben also says to make a plan before the storm arrives and to stay home if possible. But if you do decide to get on the road, make sure your car is prepared with enough fuel, your phone is charged and have non-perishable food items if you become stuck on the road. Also make sure your car’s exhaust pipe remains clear of snow buildup to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Once it arrives, it’s best for you to take a break from your daily routine, sit in your home and watch the weather, and be aware of when it’s best to get out and travel again. It’s not the right time to travel. It’s time to stay home.”