Dramatic video captured cars and semi-trucks strewn across a highway in eastern Kentucky after a heavy snowstorm led to a 75-car pile-up on the icy and slick road.
Images shared on Twitter showed cars T-boned and partially buried in the snow along Interstate 64 between Winchester and Mount Sterling.
The multi-vehicle chaos comes as the National Weather Service placed 100 million Americans under weather alerts from winter storm systems moving across the country in the following days.
Thursday’s storm blanketed parts of the South with quick-falling snow, freezing rain and sleet as the system tracked a path through Appalachia toward the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Another snow system is expected to move from the Pacific Northwest into the Rockies through Friday, while icy conditions will move from the Mid-South into the Northeast.
In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams is preparing to face his first snowstorm in office, after the NWS said a snow system would bring between three to six inches of snow to the Big Apple on Friday.
Authorities in Kentucky responded to a 50-car pile-up caused by icy and slick roads. During the afternoon, Lexington Police described the area of the I-64 junction as a ‘parking lot’
Lexington Police temporarily stopped responding to reports of non-injury collisions, urging motorists to stay on the side of the road
Mike Thomas uses a leaf blower to clear snow off of his pickup truck after helping his wife to get her windshield wipers working correctly as snow falls, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, in Owensboro, Kentucky
Snow is expected in several areas of Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Washington State, Wyoming, West Virginia, New York and Maine
In the Bluegrass State, portions of Interstate 75, the Western Kentucky Parkway and Interstate 71 were closed on Thursday afternoon after the massive pile-up.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear had warned drivers to stay off the roads because of hazardous road conditions caused by the snow.
‘Please do not travel if you don’t have to today,’ Beshear said during a press conference before the pileup.
Most of I-75 Northbound had reopened shortly before 4pm, as crews tried to get I-64 opened.
Lexington Police temporarily stopped responding to reports of non-injury collisions, urging motorists to stay on the side of the road, as they described the area of the I-64 junction as a ‘parking lot.’
Further east, the cities of Columbia, Tullahoma and Waynesville in Tennessee reported freezing rain and heavy sleet, while nearly all of middle Tennessee was under winter storm warning.
Most of I-75 Northbound had reopened shortly before 4pm, as crews tried to get I-64 opened
Jerry Ambs, with the Daviess County Fiscal Court, blows the falling snow off the sidewalks around the Daviess County Court House, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, in Owensboro, Kentucky
The Kentucky chaos comes just days after heavy snow along the I-95 corridor between Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, DC trapped motorists for more than 24 hours.
There can be even more traffic hell in the next few days. Locations in the winter storm warning areas will see between 4 to 7 inches of snow, the National Weather Service said.
Snow is expected in several areas of Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Washington State, Wyoming, West Virginia, New York and Maine.
The National Avalanche Center in Seattle warned that major avalanches could strike in the Cascade Mountains, Olympic National Park and Mount Hood.
A family enjoys a day of sledding at Percy Warner Park Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022 in Nashville, Tenn. A winter storm blanketed parts of the South with quick-falling snow, freezing rain and sleet Thursday
A motorist is pushed through snow by a man in Nashville
The new year started with inclement weather that has led to massive flight cancelations, closed government offices, major power outages, and motorists stranded on interstate highways for more than 20 hours
The NWS said a snow system would be moving through New York and bringing slight to moderate snow in the early hours of Friday.
Three to six inches of snow are expected.
The agency also noted that snow could increase on Long Island and southern Connecticut if the snow system moved closer to the coast, and warned New Yorkers of treacherous roads.
‘Part of the concern with tonight/tomorrow’s #snow is the timing. Short range models are signaling the potential for snowfall rates to exceed 1’/hour just as the morning commute gets underway. Treacherous roadway conditions are likely, especially early. If possible, avoid travel!’ the service tweeted on Thursday.
The New York City Department of Sanitation and Emergency Management held a briefing on Thursday ahead of winter weather expected to impact the Big Apple.
It is the first major weather event of the year for the city.
The NWS said a snow system would be moving through New York and bringing slight to moderate snow in the early hours of Friday
In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams is preparing to face his first snow storm in office, after the NWS said a snow system would bring between three to six inches of snow to the Big Apple on Frida
The New York City Department of Sanitation and Emergency Management held a briefing on Thursday ahead of winter weather expected to impact the Big Apple
It will also test the newly-elected mayor’s ability to be ready for such events after his predecessor, Bill de Blasio, was often criticized during his term for his lack of preparedness.
One month after taking office in 2014, de Blasio was slammed when the Upper East Side was left buried while snow plows were sent to Brooklyn during a major snow storm.
He said he did not expect two snow storms within his first month.
‘There is a rich history of people in leadership positions dealing with weather crisis,’ de Blasio said in 2014. ‘My attitude is to lead from the front and to be out leading from the front.’
However, in the following years he continued to be accused of failing to prepare New Yorkers for extreme weather events.
Last year, 11 New York City residents were found dead in basements after torrential rains in the Big Apple.
At the time, furious New Yorkers blamed de Blasio for not giving more warning for the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Ida and only declaring a state of emergency after the bodies of seven residents had been found.
‘Today, a wave of low pressure is forecast to develop along the arctic front draped across the Deep South,’ the Weather Prediction Center said on Thursday. ‘The combination of snow and ice may cause hazardous road conditions through tonight in this region’
The new year started with inclement weather that has led to massive flight cancelations, closed government offices, caused major power outages, and left motorists stranded on interstate highways for more than 20 hours.
On Monday, winter storm Frida slammed the Mid-Atlantic region, dropping eleven inches of snow from North Carolina to southern New Jersey.
The bad weather further hampered the already COVID-battered airline industry.
Flight cancellations within the US topped 1,000 for the 12th day in a row on Thursday, as airlines also battle staff shortages from the Omicron variant that began before the Christmas holiday.
Airlines have canceled nearly 2,000 flights and delayed 2,300 flights going to, from, or within the country as of Thursday afternoon, according to tracking website FlightAware.
Southwest, United, and Skywest have recorded the most disruptions today, with Southwest alone canceling nearly 600 flights.
Anne Vaughan, Charlotte Williamson and Lucy Atwood enjoy sledding in the snow at Percy Warner Park Thursday
A cyclist rides along West End Ave. in the snow Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee
The storm in Tennessee began hitting greater Nashville on Thursday morning. About 1.5 to 3 inches of snow was reported for most of the area by late morning, according to the Nashville Weather Service, with areas south of the city seeing the freezing rain and heavy sleet
Tara Biller plays with her dogs in the snow outside her home along Cheek Rd. Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022 in Nashville,
Travelers scheduled to fly this weekend can endure more pain.
‘Today, a wave of low pressure is forecast to develop along the arctic front draped across the Deep South,’ the Weather Prediction Center said on Thursday. ‘The combination of snow and ice may cause hazardous road conditions through tonight in this region.’
‘As the low tracks through the Southeast today, heavy snowfall is expected to develop across parts of the Tennessee Valley into the Central Appalachians, with some ice farther to the south across portions of southern/eastern Tennessee and northern Mississippi/Alabama.’
At least half a foot of snow is expected in several cities in the mid-South before the storm ceases on Friday.
‘An area of heavy snow, with rates on the order of 1-2+ inches per hour, may develop and overspread parts of western through middle Tennessee, including much of the Greater Nashville metropolitan area,’ the Storm Prediction Center announced.
The storm in Tennessee began hitting greater Nashville on Thursday morning.
About 1.5 to 3 inches of snow was reported for most of the area by late morning, according to the Nashville Weather Service, with areas south of the city seeing the freezing rain and heavy sleet.
The Nashville area could expect the precipitation to taper off in the afternoon and early evening, with 3 to 5 inches of snow expected, and more in some areas, the weather service said.
Authorities urged people to travel only when necessary, as Metro Nashville Police reported accidents and other driving woes that snarled and slowed several roads.
Police reported dozens of wrecks on the road by the early afternoon.
The Tennessee cities of Columbia, Tullahoma, and Waynesville reported freezing rain and heavy sleet
After a bruising holiday week of flight cancellations and record surges in COVID-19 cases, the powerful winter weather has further snarled US transport
Flight cancellations within the US topped 1,000 for the 12th day in a row on Thursday, as airlines also battle staff shortages from the Omicron variant that began before the Christmas holiday
A section of Interstate 40 was closed due to a tractor trailer fuel spill crash, according to police, just one of the issues plugging up interstates in the city.
Schools around the region canceled classes, including a closure through Friday for Nashville’s public school students.
Gov. Bill Lee, meanwhile, closed state offices across Tennessee, and Nashville International Airport reported plenty of canceled and delayed flights.
The storm also hit Memphis and surrounding Shelby County, where school systems canceled classes and municipal courts were closed, while crews were monitoring conditions of city streets.
Snow began falling mid-morning, after freezing rain and sleet fell on the city earlier in the day. Some flights were likewise canceled at Memphis International Airport.
First lady Jill Biden, meanwhile, had to cancel her trip planned for Thursday to view damage from last month’s tornado in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The storm presented an expected boon to the ski industry in West Virginia, where up to 8 inches of snow was forecast.
Three of the state’s four major downhill ski resorts had suspended on-slope operations earlier this week due to warmer conditions. Now the activity was picking back up.
‘West Virginia can’t wait to welcome travelers to our snow-capped mountains this winter,’ said Chelsea Ruby, secretary of the state’s Department of Tourism.
