Winter blast of snow, ice and bone-chilling cold grips parts of US
More than a dozen states from Kansas to New Jersey are under winter weather warnings and advisories
A major winter blast of snow, ice, wind and plunging temperatures in the US stirred dangerous travel conditions from central and southern states all the way to the East Coast early Monday, prompting schools and government offices in several states to close.
Snow and ice blanketed major roads across Kansas, western Nebraska and parts of Indiana, where the state’s National Guard was activated to help stranded motorists. At least 20cm (8 inches) of snow was expected, along with gusting winds up to 72km/h (45mph).
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri all the way to New Jersey.
“For locations in this region that receive the highest snow totals, it may be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” the weather service said.
The polar vortex of ultra-cold air usually spins around the North Pole. People in the US, Europe and Asia experience its intense cold when the vortex escapes and plunges southward.
