Winter Storm Blair Claims Five Lives, Disrupts Life Across U.S.

Sat Dec 20 2025 12:32:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A massive winter storm known as Blair wreaks havoc across the United States, resulting in five fatalities and significant travel disruptions.

At least five people died as a relentless winter storm named Blair engulfed a wide section of the United States, leading to extensive school closures, travel cancellations, and power outages. Seven states declared emergencies, including Kentucky and Arkansas. The severe weather caused over 2,300 flight cancellations and nearly 9,000 delays as icy conditions swept through the region, driven by a polar vortex that typically resides near the North Pole. The storm left over 200,000 residents without electricity on Monday night, according to Poweroutage.us. As of Tuesday, snow and sleet are expected to continue across much of the northeastern U.S., according to forecasts from the National Weather Service (NWS).

In Washington DC, federal offices and schools were shuttered, while the snowfall ranged from 5 to 9 inches (13 to 23 cm) with certain areas in nearby Maryland and Virginia recording up to a foot. With the weather emergency declared, local residents embraced the snowy conditions, participating in snowball fights—a tradition in the area. Former U.S. Olympic skier Clare Egan took to the National Mall to cross-country ski, delighting in the unexpected winter wonderland.

Meanwhile, the storm caused perilous road conditions, prompting concerns from state authorities. Missouri reported over 365 car accidents on Sunday alone, resulting in several injuries and at least one death. Kansas experienced tragic fatalities as well, with local reports of two deaths resulting from a car crash amid the chaos. The extreme cold led to a death in Houston, Texas, while Virginia recorded countless car crashes and issued advisories for residents to remain off the roads amid treacherous conditions.

According to meteorologist Matthew Cappucci from MyRadar, Kansas City experienced its heaviest snowfall in 32 years, with some areas near the Ohio River turning into “skating rinks.” As the plows and emergency services struggled to navigate the storm's aftermath, authorities urged residents to stay home for their safety.