A severe winter storm impacted much of the U.S. early Monday, causing dangerous travel conditions from central states to the East Coast. Schools and government offices closed in states including Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky, with some areas expected to receive over a foot of snow. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings, noting that areas experiencing significant snowfall might see their heaviest accumulations in a decade. Stranded motorists were assisted by the National Guard in Indiana and Missouri, where over 600 individuals were reported stuck. Authorities urged residents to stay off the roads; many car accidents were reported across multiple states, prompting emergency declarations. The storm, influenced by a destabilized polar vortex due to a warming Arctic, is expected to bring bone-chilling cold across much of the eastern U.S., with temperatures plunging 12 to 25 degrees below normal. These conditions are anticipated to affect air and rail travel, leading to numerous cancellations. The cold air is expected to persist, with significant impacts on areas as far south as Florida, marking a stark shift from the previously mild winter conditions.
