Heavy snow, freezing rain: Why Winter Storm Blair battering US is deadliest in decades

Blair is here and she’s brought the chill with her. We aren’t talking about a woman but the winter storm that has hit the Plains, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic US with snow, ice, and freezing temperatures — ensuring that the new year will begin as a challenging one for up to 250 million people in 40 states.

Dangerous wintry conditions have descended on large swathes of central US causing travel and work disruptions from Kansas City to Washington. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Weather Prediction Centre already predicted earlier that “for some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in over a decade”.

As the US struggles with the winter storm, we take a closer look at what’s behind the storm and how bad is it.

Winter Storm Blair and the Arctic Outbreak

The storm dubbed Winter Storm Blair by the Weather Channel is the result of what’s known as an Arctic Outbreak, which is itself a creature of the polar vortex . But what is an Arctic Outbreak?

The National Weather Service defines an Arctic Outbreak as a “very cold air mass that typically originates in the Siberian Region of Asia, crosses over the north pole into Canada and pushes south and east into the lower United States.”

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While they occur annually, most do not reach the Gulf South due to steering currents. But the strongest outbreaks reach Gulf states approximately every four to five years on average, the weather service noted.

Some weather experts note that the wintry conditions are in part owing to climate change. Judah Cohen, seasonal forecast director at the private firm Atmospheric and Environmental Research, told AP that the brutal weather may be spurred in part by a fast-warming Arctic.

Storm snows in the US

The storm, which began on Sunday (January 5), has already begun disrupting daily life in the US, with snow and ice blanketing major roadways in nearly all of Kansas, western Nebraska and parts of Indiana.

According to Bob Oravec of the National Weather Service, the storm has put around 63 million people in the US under some kind of winter weather advisory. CNN further reported that of these 60 million, nearly four million are under blizzard warnings across much of eastern Kansas and western Missouri.

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Owing to the dangerous conditions brought on by the storm, the National Weather Service has warned people to avoid travelling. Highways in northeastern Kansas are already shut due to “impassable” conditions. The closures included approximately 354 kilometres of the state’s main artery, Interstate 70, from the Missouri border into central Kansas.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who declared a state emergency ahead of the storm, said state buildings would be closed Monday.

The storm has also caused more than 1,500 flights across the US to be cancelled, with more expected to join the list. The most affected airports include Kansas City International, where almost 190 flights have been cancelled, and St. Louis Lambert International Airport, which has had over 190 cancellations.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport had 120 cancellations and over 60 delays. Southwest Airlines accounted for most of the cancellations and delays, with over 230 flights cancelled and 250 delayed Sunday morning.

Moreover, some areas could see their biggest storm in more than a decade. The storm was moving toward the mid-Atlantic, where residents braced for heavy snow and cold temperatures. The NWS has also warned of “significant icing”. “Total snow and sleet accumulations up to two inches and ice accumulations between one quarter and three-quarters of an inch,” The National Weather Service said. “Persons should delay all travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility.”

The NWS also warned that this could be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade. AccuWeather forecaster Dan DePodwin said: “This could lead to the coldest January for the US since 2011.”

There’s also worry that the winter storm could cause disruptions with Congress certifying Trump’s win. Today, US lawmakers are scheduled to meet at the Capitol to certify the winner of the US presidential elections — that is Donald Trump. However, the wintry conditions could delay some lawmakers from arriving in Washington. A joint session of Congress is to convene at 1:00 pm local time (11.30 pm) on Monday.

A cold future awaits the US

Large parts of the US will continue to shiver this week with temperatures 12 to 25 degrees below normal being predicted. As per experts, wind gusts from the Central states into parts of the Tennessee Valley will make it feel even colder.

“Should the cold wave evolve to its full potential, maximum temperature departures could plunge 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical average from the northern Plains and Midwest to the interior Southeast,” AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Duffus was quoted as telling USA Today.

Anticipating the worst, West Virginia and Kentucky have also set up warming centres for people who may need a warm place as power outages are expected. According to PowerOutage.US, already 40,000 people across Missouri, North Carolina, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma are in the dark owing to power outages.

With inputs from agencies