At least five people killed on treacherous roads as ‘snowpocalypse’ batters United States

At least five people have been killed, as a treacherous ‘once-in-a-generation’ winter system pummels central and eastern parts of the United States, with at least six governors calling for a state of emergency.

New York Govenor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and issued a traffic ban on part of Interstate 90 beginning on Friday at 6 am due to the incoming storm’s expected brutality.

She joins at least five other states, ahead of the frigid, powerful snowstorm moving across the U.S. through Friday, and expected to hit multiple states with heavy snow, damaging winds, freezing rain and dangerous bitter cold.

Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia and North Carolina have all issued the emergency orders that, in part, activate their emergency response and operations plans.

At least five people have been killed, as a treacherous ‘once-in-a-generation’ winter system pummels central and eastern parts of the United States, with at least six governors calling for a state of emergency 

A person wrapped in a blanket walks on a sidewalk as snow begins to fall Thursday in St Louis in Missouri. Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia and North Carolina have all issued state of emergency orders

United States President Joe Biden said on Thursday, that the incoming weather system ‘is not like any other snow day when you were a kid.’

‘This is not like a snow day when you were a kid. This is serious stuff, I encourage everyone, everyone, please heed the local warnings. Take this storm extremely seriously,’ Biden said.

Biden added that he has been in touch with 26 governors, some of whom had already declared states of emergency ahead of the storm.

The five fatalities, caused in separate motor vehicle accidents, were recorded in Oklahoma as the storm started to coat roads with snow and ice, authorities said. 

Lieutenant Candice Breshears, of the Kansas Highway Patrol, said in a press conference on Thursday that three people were killed in multiple crashes overnight. 

In one of the collisions, authorities said, a vehicle driven by 16-year-old Sawyer Lysell-Alkire was traveling south on Interstate 135 in Saline County shortly after 9 pm when it veered off the highway and overturned into a ditch. 

A passenger in the vehicle, Grant L. Lysell-Alkire, 21, of Lindsborg, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver suffered minor injuries. 

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said it responded to two fatal crashes Thursday in the state, one on the Turner Turnpike near Luther and a three-vehicle crash that occurred in Paden in central Oklahoma.

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A man braces the cold to shovel a sidewalk outside a local business in Wisconsin 

The Capitol Building in Iowa is barely visible as heavy snow falls on Wednesday evening 

A Minnesota highway is already covered in snow and backed-up from accidents on Wednesday night 

An ambulance was seen assisting a semi-truck that slid off the road diagonally, causing a tail back in Des Moines 

Emergency personnel were seen looking at the vehicle from both sides. It is unclear if the driver was injured 

In Wyoming, they have already begun experiencing complete white-out conditions and extreme straight-line winds.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol posted videos showing the conditions in Cheyenne, as it encouraged residents to ‘please stay home.’ 

The trooper’s car can be seen rattling as snow is whipping across the hood of his car in a tornado-like effect. The only thing visible in the commotion is the car’s headlights. 

‘Current view from a Trooper’s car in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Current conditions outside of Cheyenne are -18 with zero visibility,’ the Wyoming Highway Patrol wrote in a Facebook post.

In another video, an emergency vehicle can be seen with its lights on as snow is whipped across the roadways. The pavement is barely visible. 

‘Nope, the Trooper didn’t make a wrong turn and end up in Antarctica,’ it joked. 

One Minnesota traveler got festive in a Santa hat as he traveled through the airport with his children  

Of the nearly 9,000 delays as of Thursday around 5pm, Denver International rang in number one at 254 flights. Chicago O’Hare (pictured) came in second with 221 and Chicago Midway came in third with 23 

All three also rang in at the top of the cancelation board with Denver International postponing 299 flights, Chicago O’Hare (pictured) with 288, and Chicago Midway 138 

All three also rang in at the top of the cancellation board, with Chicago O’Hare (pictured) postponing 175 flights, Denver with 261, and Chicago Midway with 133 

Travelers across the Midwest are expected to endure a snowpocalypse, with some areas getting up to 24 inches of snow (pictured: travelers at a Minnesota airport)

Plenty of travelers waited in line at Terminal 1 in the MSP Airport in Minnesota ahead of their holiday travels 

It also revealed that Troopers had responded to more than 780 calls for service, including nearly 200 motorists who needed assistance and more than 100 car collisions. 

As emergency services warn of dangerous conditions, families hoping to loved one’s to come home over Christmas may be left disappointed as nearly 9,000 flights have been delayed or canceled on the busiest travel day of the year.

As the US braces for the once-in-a-generation storm that is set to impact nearly every state and guarantee a white Christmas in the Midwest snow had already begun to fall across the Midwest on Wednesday evening.

The weather service said that it is likely to intensify throughout Thursday and Friday, with temperatures dropping 40 degrees in Wyoming in just a half an hour. 

Those hoping to catch flights home for the holidays could be facing another nightmare, much like the summertime travel season, with plenty of flights already cancelled. 

Of the nearly 9,000 delays as of 5pm on Thursday, Denver International rang in number one at 254 flights. Chicago O’Hare came in second with 221 and Chicago Midway came in third with 23. 

An Air Canada plane is seen covered in snow at the Vancouver International Airport in British Columbia a few days before the storm is suppose to sweep through Canada as well 

Winter Storm Elliot is expected to dump plenty of snow across the Midwest and Plains throughout Thursday and Friday

This could be the coldest Christmas weekend in decades as many US states are falling in the 15 degree range, with the Great Plains getting as cold as -30F 

All three also rang in at the top of the cancelation board with Denver International postponing 299 flights, Chicago O’Hare with 288, and Chicago Midway 138, according to Flight Aware.  

Winter Storm Elliot has intensified to be classified as a ‘bomb cyclone,’ which can bring blizzard-like conditions through the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes area. The East and South can also expect a possible flash freeze due to high winds, according to the Weather Channel.  

Blizzard warnings have been issued for parts of the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and the Great Lakes – with Buffalo, Des Moines, and Grand Rapids having the highest chances of experiencing these conditions. 

Winter storm warnings and weather advisories are in effect for the Northern Plains to the mid-South, with Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Nashville, and Memphis being located in concerning areas. 

The Weather Channel advised residents in those areas avoid travel at all cost as it could be ‘difficult or impossible.’

Denver has also already gotten some snow, and visibility has begun to lessen 

Wind chill will also be an issue throughout the Great Plains, which could get up to -50 degrees 

A farm is covered in snow in Minnesota on Thursday after a night of snowfall 

Near white-out conditions were seen last night in Cheyenne, Wyoming as high winds and snow decreased visibility

Rain is expected to hit the East Coast starting on Thursday, which could turn into freezing rain or sleet throughout the Northeast. 

Rain is also expected along the Interstate 95 corridor throughout Thursday.

Northeastern Illinois is under a winter storm warning from noon today until 6am Saturday, with the expectation the area will get three to six inches of snow, but could reach up to one inch per hour. 

With wind gusts up to 50mph and wind chills as low as 25 to 35 below zero tonight through Friday night, Chicago and the surrounding areas can expect whiteout conditions and roads will become icy overnight.

On Friday, the storm will reach its peak in the Great Lakes from Northern Wisconsin to Western New York. 

The Northeast can expect a bitter cold after the rain passes through and turns to ice. Georgia and the Carolinas are expected to have high winds throughout Friday. 

By the end of the Friday, Erie, Pennsylvania, could get up to 18 inches of snow, while Buffalo can expect 12 inches. Cleveland is expected to get up to five inches of snow, while Boston and DC are getting one to five inches of rain.  

By Saturday, the storm will move north, but strong winds are still expected to last.