The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring the development of a powerful winter storm that has tens of millions of people across at least 22 states from the Midwest to the Northeast on alert for a widespread threat of freezing rain that has already led to numerous reports of icy roads and crashes. Treacherous travel conditions have been reported in portions of Kansas and Missouri, with officials saying there have been multiple reports of stalled vehicles and crashes in the some miles from Topeka, Kansas, to Kansas City, Missouri.
Officials say the biggest impacts have been on busy highways such as Interstate 35, Interstate 70 and Interstate Because of this, the Thursday morning commute is expected to be extremely dangerous on untreated roads and highways in cities like Chicago, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio. Winter weather advisories have been issued across the region and include major cities like Kansas City, Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago.
The FOX Forecast Center said dangerous travel conditions appear to be the biggest impact of this storm in those locations. Dangerous ice storm threatens millions from Chicago to Boston with treacherous travel, power outages.
Temperatures are expected to climb above freezing during the day Thursday, quickly melting any ice that builds up during the storm. However, refreezing will be a concern as we get into Thursday night. Areas to the east will see the highest potential for significant icing — especially in portions of Maryland and into the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.
Power outages and tree damage are most likely in those locations, as ice accretions greater than a quarter-inch and maybe as high as a half-inch are possible. Ice storm warnings have been issued in four states, with the National Weather Service office in Charleston, West Virginia, issuing its first such warning in three years.
