Winter Storm Unleashes Chaos In Parts Of Central US, Bringing Heavy Snowfall & Plunging Temperatures, Stirring Up Dangerous Travel Conditions

We see far too many wrecks out there for people that do not have to be on the roads, so I want to ask: Stay inside. Stay safe with your family,

the governor said

This is a traditional snow day with no online learning,

the district announced

Please be patient if you have called 911 for assistance. A deputy will call you or respond to you as soon as possible,

the sheriff's office said in a statement

Zach IscolnYC Emergency Management Commissioner

We urge New Yorkers to prepare for a challenging evening commute on Monday, as this winter weather system brings some snow accumulation early in the New Year,

NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said

We got a big snowstorm coming to D.C., and we encourage all of our colleagues do not leave town, stay here, because, as you know, the Electoral Count Act requires this on Jan. 6 at 1 p.m., so whether we’re in a blizzard or not, we’re going to be in that chamber making sure this is done,

Johnson said

Heavy snowfall and wind gusts will create blizzard conditions in the Central Plains and freezing rain is forecast from central Kansas through the central Appalachians. Severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening from the Sabine River Valley into the lower Mississippi Valley."

The bulletin summarizes the worst of it

Executive Branch agencies will continue to provide essential services,

read a post on Beshear's X account

We haven’t seen more than 10 inches in 32 years,

Platt told NBC News

Drivers should stay off the roads if possible, remain alert, and follow all safety protocols,

Murphy said

Phil Murphynew Jersey Governor

Throughout our state, we are experiencing severe winter weather resulting in hazardous conditions, with snowfall expected to reach a high of six to eight inches in our southern counties,

Murphy said in the statement

When the temperature is in the 20s, and even less than that, it’s harder to move it, it’s harder to melt it,

he said

Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice,

the weather service office in Silver Spring, Maryland said in a series of statements

If local authorities are telling people not to travel, it’s counterintuitive to try to run a full slate of services when people are being told to stay home,

US rail network Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said

It’s snowing so hard, the snow ploughs go through and then within a half hour the roadways are completely covered again,

Sergeant Todd Ringle said

This activation brings additional subject matter experts from other state agencies and external partners into one location to facilitate an effective, direct and coordinated response to the winter storm impacting the state,

the state's Department of Homeland Security said

As this is a weather-related event, we will continue monitoring the situation and if anything changes, all customers scheduled for impacted services will be notified as soon as possible."

Amtrak Alerts, the official account wrote on X on January 4:

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 early Sunday

As we head into the middle of next week it looks like those winds pick up,

he said

We are doing everything we can to get our hands on this animal,

said Gabriella Harlamert, stranding and rehab coordinator for New Orleans’ Audubon Aquarium Rescue

Ben Gardnerstate Highway Patrol Trooper

We are in it now,

Gardner said as he drove to the scene of an accident