Summary

  • A huge winter storm has brought heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures to the mid-west and east coast of the US

  • At least six people have reportedly died, including a man whose body was found outside of a bus shelter

  • More than 2,000 flights have been cancelled and another 23,000 delayed because of the heavy snowfall

  • As much as 18in (45cm) of snow has fallen in parts of Kansas, with large quantities recorded across multiple states

  • You can find the forecast for your area on BBC Weather

Snowstorm covers beaches and brings skiers to downtown DC

Live Reporting

Edited by Brandon Livesay

  1. Worry in snow-covered Kansas City

    Caitlin Wilson
    Reporting from DC

    I just talked to my family in Kansas City, where night has fallen.

    It has been snowing since the pre-dawn hours and it’s forecast to continue for several hours still.

    My sister, Maureen Burke, spent the day hunkering down at home and playing outside with my two-year-old nephew - he told me all about the snowman they built this morning (which you can see in the picture below). But she and her husband both have to work tomorrow.

    “It’s been snowing for hours and I’m concerned how I’m going to get to work tomorrow,” she texted me. Maureen can’t work from home as she is a hospital labour and delivery nurse.

    Nearly six months pregnant, she is nervous about what driving conditions she’ll encounter.

    She plans to leave extra early to make sure she has enough time to drive super slowly on the usually 15-minute journey.

    Some of her co-workers who are working Sunday and Monday are spending the night at the hospital to make sure they’re around for their patients, but of course that’s not an option for all of the nurses.

  2. Skier dies in Wyoming avalanche

    A skier died in an avalanche on a mountain in Wyoming, according to the local emergency services.

    In a statement, Teton County Search & Rescue said it was alerted to a "known avalanche burial" on Togwotee Pass in the Absaroka Mountains just before midday on Saturday.

    It says the avalanche was triggered by a group of four skiers ascending a track.

    "The avalanche partially buried one skier and fully buried another. The partially buried skier sustained a lower leg injury," a statement on its website reads.

    The body of the deceased has been recovered.

    Wyoming is not in the path of the winter storm, although the snowpack at ski resorts from Oregon to Vermont has topped a healthy 100 inches (254cm) this season.

  3. Watch: Truck loses control on icy highway near Kansas City

    As we explain in the previous post, Kansas City is grappling with "one of the most historic" storms it has ever seen.

    Officials have been warning motorists to stay off the icy, snowy roads, and from this video earlier today, it's not hard to see why.

    Watch: Truck loses control on icy highway near Kansas City

  4. Kansas and Missouri in the heart of the storm

    Kansas and Missouri are among the areas expecting the worst of this storm, and by Sunday afternoon more than 10 inches - 25cm - of snow had already fallen in some areas.

    Winter weather forced the closure of all highways in the north east of Kansas, and the cancellation of thousands of flights from Kansas City airport, just over the border in Missouri.

    Kansas City official Brian Platt described the storm as "one of the most historic" the city has ever seen.

    "We haven’t seen more than 10 inches in 32 years," he told NBC News.

    A map showing the severity of the stormNational Weather Service

    Kansas City - on the border of Kansas and Missouri - is expecting blizzard conditions

  5. State of emergency declared for parts of New Jersey

    New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency for several counties a little earlier this evening, citing the "heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, high wind gusts, and freezing temperatures" about to hit.

    The measure allows the quick deployment of resources, the governor's office said, and will come into effect in less than three hours - 22:00 local time (03:00 GMT)

    Counties covered by the declaration include Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem.

    In the statement, Murphy reiterated warnings to avoid all travel.

    A state of emergency has also been declared in the states of Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and Arkansas.

  6. Washington DC braces for Storm Blair

    The US Capitol building is seen through security fencing on the National Mall ahead of the January 6th certification of the 2024 Presidential Election in Congress in Washington, DC, on January 5, 2025Getty Images

    Officials say the certification of the presidential election results will take place despite the storm

    The US's East Coast is now hunkering down for the storm, after it hit parts of the Midwest.

    Reporting from Washington DC, our North America correspondent Rowan Bridge says the snow hasn't started yet, but conditions are due "to get a lot, lot worse” overnight.

    “Other major cities on the East Coast of the United States - places like Baltimore up the coast from here - are also likely to be affected severely over the next 24 to 48 hours or so,” he adds.

    The worst of the storm, though, is set to hit states like Kansas, and our correspondent says predictions for there are “dire”.

    There is talk of a “whiteout” in the Midwest, he says, with a combination of heavy snowfall and high winds creating conditions for blizzards.

    As we reported earlier, Washington DC is set to host the certification of the presidential election results tomorrow. Officials say it will go ahead regardless of the weather.

  7. Missouri man sees thundersnow for first time

    Video filmed by Scott shows several inches of snow left by the storm

    A resident of Saint Charles, a suburb of St Louis, Missouri, has described the exciting moment he heard thundersnow in his neighbourhood this afternoon.

    Scott, who only wishes to give his first name, says: "The lightning was pretty big, thought the power flickered a couple of times. Booming thunder, slow rolling, house shaking, just like during a thunderstorm."

    Scott says he has around 8in of snow. "Pretty close to whiteout conditions," he adds.

  8. Zoo polar bears loving it - elephants not so much

    Stuart Clausen speaks on the BBC News channel

    It isn’t just humans seeking shelter from the storm.

    At Kansas City Zoo, harsh conditions have forced zookeepers to stay with their animal wards overnight.

    On the BBC News channel, aquatics curator Stuart Clausen says the weather in Missouri is “pretty severe” as he and the team make sure the animals have all they need to endure the cold.

    For the elephants and giraffes, this means staying in warm, heated shelters. But for those adapted to colder climates, Clausen says there’s the chance for “enrichment”.

    The penguins and polar bears, he says, have been “outside and enjoying the snow” - and feel at home in the wintry conditions.

    Clausen says he and his teams are “ready to go” with supplies at the zoo, and intend to see the storm through with the animals.

  9. West Virginia declares state of emergency

    Some 60 million Americans are under winter weather alerts. West Virginia has declared a state of emergency, joining five other states.

    Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri all declared their own states of emergency.

    Thirty US states spanning from the middle of the country to the east coast - including major cities like Washington DC and Philadelphia - are expected to see severe winter conditions.

    Forecasters say the extreme weather is being caused by the polar vortex, an area of cold air that circulates around the Arctic.

    Stick with us and we'll bring you the latest. For more, we have an explainer on everything you need to know about the storm.

  10. Some schools will be closed tomorrow

    In some parts of the US where snow has been falling, officials are preparing for conditions to worsen.

    By lunchtime local time, some schools had started to cancel Monday classes.

    In Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia schools have already announced they're closing.

  11. Flight delays continue to rise

    All day we've been tracking how this winter storm is affecting travel, with airports accounting for much of the disruption.

    More than 5,000 flights within, into or out of the US have been delayed so far today, according to tracking website FlightAware.

    This is an increase of around 1,700 in three hours.

    Meanwhile, nearly 1,500 flights have been cancelled.

  12. Snowfall records broken in parts of US - and it's 'still coming down strong'

    A snow-covered stretch limousine sits parked on January 5, 2025 in downtown Louisville, KentuckyGetty Images

    Here's a look at some of that record-breaking snow in Louisville

    Records are being broken as snow continues to fall over large parts of the US.

    In Lexington, Kentucky, 12.7cm (5in) of snow was recorded as of 15:30 EST (20:30 GMT) today.

    This breaks the previous daily snowfall record of 7cm (2.8 in) - set in 1979 - according to the Louisville branch of the National Weather Service (NWS).

    And, as of 15:15 local time (20:15 GMT), the city of Louisville in Kentucky had recorded 19.5cm (7.7in) of snowfall.

    This far surpasses the previous record for 5 January - 7.6cm (3in) in 1910.

    Meanwhile, Topeka, Kansas has had 30cm (12in) of snow, according to the NWS there - the fourth highest total snowfall recorded in a single day.

    The snow there, though, is "still coming down strong", its adds.

  13. Kentucky State Police: 'Heed warnings and do not travel'

    A police car is crumpled on a highway after a crashX/ @kystatepolice

    Along with many other states, a state of emergency has been declared in Kentucky - and police there have just shared a stark reminder as to why people are being urged not to travel today.

    In a post shared on social media, a police vehicle is shown entirely crumpled after a crash.

    The officer involved in the incident “is receiving medical treatment with non-life-threatening injuries”, the post says.

    “This is why we are asking you to stay home and avoid travel.

    "Please heed warnings and do NOT travel today.”

  14. Gusts of 35mph hit airport in Missouri - NWS

    The Kansas City arm of the National Weather Service is reporting that stormy conditions have hit the Rosecrans Memorial Airport in Missouri.

    At the airfield, the NWS says gusts with speeds of around 35mph (36kmh) have been recorded, along with "blowing snow" since 08:00 CST (14:00 GMT).

    As a reminder, Missouri is likely to be one of the states hardest hit by the incoming winter storm - the region is under a blizzard warning, and has declared a state of emergency.

  15. Flurry of photos show an airport snowed under

    Striking photos from Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky show a scene of planes covered in snow as the area gets blanketed by the storm.

    Flights have been cancelled from the airport for the rest of the day - which is not a surprise given the conditions. The storm continues to disrupt air travel, with nearly 4,500 flights delayed and nearly 2,000 cancellations, according to FlightAware.

    A FedEx Corp. cargo jet sits parked in the snow at Louisville Muhammad Ali International AirportGetty Images

    A FedEx cargo plane sits parked on the snow-covered tarmac

    From a further angle, the FedEx plane is barely visible against a backdrop of white, heavy snowGetty Images

    From further away, the same plane is barely visible as heavy snow fills the sky

    A United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) Boeing 747 cargo jet sits parked in the snowGetty Images

    Some of the airport staff attend to a parked UPS Boeing 747 plane

    Snow-covered military vehicles parked at the Kentucky Air National Guard base at the airportGetty Images

    Snow-covered military vehicles parked at the Kentucky Air National Guard base at the airport

  16. A quick recap on what has happened so far today

    Ana Faguy
    BBC News

    The Midwestern US is gripped by a severe winter storm that could produce the heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures since 2011. As many as 30 states have been placed under weather alerts.

    Here's what you need to know:

    • Multiple states including Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia are under a state of emergency
    • The National Weather Service warned "considerable disruptions to daily life" and "dangerous or impossible driving conditions and widespread closures" are likely in the central part of the country
    • Millions of Americans will see record low temperatures, forecasts suggest
    • Because of the weather conditions, some airlines are offering to waive change fees for customers travelling to and from certain cities
    • Nearly 2,000 flights have already been cancelled, according to tracking website FlightAware
    • Blizzards have struck parts of Kansas and Missouri
    • By late this evening the storm is expected reach the east coast and leave a considerable snowfall in cities like Washington DC and Philadelphia

    Stick with us and we'll bring you the latest.

    A red barn can be seen in a snowy farm field in Kansas. There is beige-coloured brush in the foreground and skies are grey.getty

  17. Canada not exempt from North America's blast of winter weather

    Further north, Canadians are also feeling the effects of the polar vortex.

    Much of Canada is under extreme weather alerts this weekend with frigid temperatures spanning the country.

    Some areas are also seeing snow squalls - a sudden heavy snowfall accompanied by strong winds.

    In Manitoba, the wind chill could see temperatures plummet to as low as -40C.

    Meanwhile, parts of Ontario could see as much as 15in (40cm) of snow Sunday.

  18. Snow won't stop tomorrow's election certification

    Ana Faguy
    BBC News

    Washington is preparing to certify the presidential election results.

    It's a procedure that routinely takes place on 6 January after a presidential election.

    But what happens when a snowstorm comes to town?

    Nothing, Thomas Berry, director of the Center for Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute says.

    Under the Electoral Count Reform Act, the House doesn't have discretion to change the date - so Congress must start counting the electoral votes at 13:00 EDT (18:00 GMT) on 6 January regardless of external factors.

    Starting that count may be a difficult feat, as snow totals anywhere from 5-10in (12-25 cm) are expected alongside frigid temperatures in Washington DC.

  19. Some areas begin to dig out of the snow

    We're now getting some photos in from across Kansas and Missouri, two Midwestern states forecast to be among those most battered by the storm.

    Multiple inches of snow have fallen and people are out attempting to clear roads and footpaths - and are having a bit of fun in the wintry conditions.

    A county truck with a snow plough drives down a road in KansasGetty Images

    A snow plough gets to work trying to clear a road in Shawnee, Kansas

    A look down a partially plowed road covered in snow and iceGetty Images

    Wintry conditions stretch to the horizon in the state, which is under a blizzard warning

    Family and two dogs playing in the snow in their garden in KansasGetty Images

    Allison Lucy plays in the snow with her family in Shawnee

    One man attempts to clear snow in St LouisAP

    One man attempts to clear snow in St Louis

    A truck carries a huge amount of salt in downtown Cincinnati, OhioReuters

    A truck carries a huge amount of salt in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio

  20. US capital declares snow emergency

    A snow emergency has been declared in Washington DC, which is due to last at least until the end of the day on Sunday.

    Motorists have been told not to park on snow emergency routes, or risk their vehicles being towed. A map of affected routes is available.

    A district snow team has been deployed, with operations due to begin this evening on all snow emergency routes, including the national highway system, a statement from DC Mayor Muriel Bowser says.

    During a cold weather emergency, the district provides some additional services and supports to protect unsheltered and vulnerable residents, it adds.

    "Extended outreach to vulnerable residents is under way to assist unsheltered and vulnerable residents with accessing shelters, warming buses, and other resources."