A powerful winter storm swept across several states this week, bringing snow and ice to areas that don’t usually see much winter weather. From the Midwest to the Southeast, millions of people were affected as cold temperatures and heavy snowfall caused road hazards, power outages, and school and office closures.
Some areas saw significant snowfall, with parts of Virginia picking up more than half a foot. In North Carolina, Raleigh got around 2-3 inches, making it the snowiest day there since 2020. In Kentucky and Tennessee, snowfall totals climbed close to double digits in some places, leading to winter weather alerts for millions.
The storm also forced government offices to shut down. In Arkansas, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders closed state offices for the day, while Tennessee Governor Bill Lee did the same for offices in the western and middle parts of the state. Even NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama delayed its opening due to the icy conditions.
Kentucky, still recovering from last weekend’s deadly flash flooding, was hit hard by the winter weather. Governor Andy Beshear urged people to stay safe and avoid unnecessary travel as snow and freezing temperatures continued. More than 2,000 highway workers were out with plows, working to clear the roads. Despite their efforts, dangerous conditions led to a crash involving a semi-truck and a snowplow on Interstate 24 in Lyon County. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the plow was back in action within a couple of hours.
In North Carolina, officials took extra precautions, declaring a state of emergency ahead of the storm. While there were concerns about ice knocking out power, outages remained limited, with fewer than 3,000 customers losing electricity across the mid-Atlantic. However, with temperatures expected to stay low, there’s a risk of refreezing, making roads even more dangerous over the next few days.
Boone, North Carolina, where a Winter Weather Advisory was in effect, is still recovering from Hurricane Helene’s devastation last year. As crews continue repairing roads damaged by the hurricane, the added challenge of ice and snow has made things even tougher.
With more cold weather on the way, officials are urging everyone in the affected areas to stay cautious, drive carefully, and prepare for the possibility of more power outages and road closures.
