By: weather.com/Associated Press
Published: January 5,2014
Alabama
Authorities in two regions of Alabama say exposure to cold weather likely contributed to the deaths of two women. Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely told AL.com that 59-year-old Sonya Todd was dressed in a light sweater and sweat pants when she was found near a road in Tanner on Saturday. Authorities in Phenix City, about 225 miles southeast of Tanner, say an elderly woman there also likely died because of exposure to the elements.Delaware
Drivers in northern Delaware have been dealing with treacherous conditions resulting from freezing rain. The state Department of Transportation warned of black ice and other dangerous conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses.Kentucky
Kentucky road crews spent Friday and Saturday spraying brine on roads and doing as much clearing work as possible before the temperatures drop. At Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah, United Airlines canceled all flights in and out of the western Kentucky airport for Monday and Tuesday because of the freezing temperatures. Airport officials say the cancelations are because of icing at other air fields where the airline flies. Multiple flights on U.S. Airways, Delta Airlines and American Airlines destined for Louisville International Airport were reporting delays of more than three hours and cancelations. Flights at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington were also experiencing delays from Chicago and Detroit.Organizations including churches and the Salvation Army were planning to open warming centers in some cities.
(MORE: Dangerous Cold Blast)
Illinois
The University of Chicago and Illinois State University told students to stay home, as did Bloomington's District 87. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will be closed on Monday, January 6 due to the extreme cold temperatures and high winds that have been forecasted.The reversal comes after withering criticism from the Chicago Teachers Union, though officials say they made the decision after "evaluated the situation again."
City officials said earlier Sunday that schools would be open on Monday, but parents could choose to keep their children home.
Aviation officials say more than 1,300 flights out of O'Hare were proactively canceled for the day. At Midway more than 200 flights were canceled. Officials closed several Illinois roadways because of drifting snow, and warned residents to stay inside.
Indiana
On Sunday night, Mayor Greg Ballard raised the travel warning to RED in Indianapolis, which makes it illegal to be on the road except for during emergencies or if drivers are seeking shelter, according to his personal Twitter account.A winter storm warning remains in effect in much of the state until 1 a.m. Monday.
Gov. Mike Pence ordered nearly 100 Indiana National Guard members to be in place ready to help in case of emergencies caused by the snow and extreme cold.
Pence ordered 24 four-person teams, each with two vehicles, to be ready to rescue stranded motorists, move people to shelters and assisting local emergency services workers in reaching people who need medical help. State officials say more National Guard members may be added if needed.
Pence has authorized all state government offices to remain closed on Monday. Essential personnel will report to work to ensure public safety and critical services are available. The state General Assembly postponed Monday's opening of its 2014 session.
Indiana State Police are reporting Interstate 70 in western Indiana is snow-covered and hazardous with numerous crashes and slide-offs being reported, including three jackknifed tractor-trailers. State troopers at the Putnamville post say they have responded to 26 vehicles slide-offs and 5 vehicle crashes. State police say traffic on I-70 is moving slowly and motorists should use caution. They say another trouble area with multiple slide-offs is State Road 63 in northern Vigo County and all of Vermillion County.
Indianapolis Power and Lights Company reports that about 32,000 customers without power as of this writing in their service territory. That number has been growing all afternoon with heavy wet snow (30-32ºF) weighing down tree limbs.
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said that city-county offices will be closed on Monday and he urged businesses that had to open to wait until noon to do so.
Public Safety Director Troy Riggs says police are only responding to emergency runs and weren't taking accident reports except in cases of serious injury or death. City officials say more than 7,000 people in the Indianapolis area are without power.
(MORE: Winter Storm Alerts | Current Driving Conditions)
Iowa
Some Iowa schools have canceled classes to keep children out of the subzero temperatures expected in the coming days.Michigan
The Detroit Public Schools, Oakland University and hundreds of other schools statewide have cancelled Monday's classes.At least one death is being blamed on the snow. The Huron Daily Tribune says 27-year-old Branden Hewitt of Owendale hit a snowdrift and struck another vehicle Saturday in Huron County.Gov. Rick Snyder is urging people to stay off the roads, dress themselves and their children warmly and check in on friends and neighbors.
Minnesota
Minnesota has called off school Monday for the entire state — the first such closing in 17 years. Winter Storm Ion prompted warnings that only those who absolutely need to venture out should do so.
With temperatures plunging far below zero and wind chills making it seem even colder, some ski and sledding hills and ice rinks have been declared closed from this weekend until Tuesday. Giants Ridge in Biwabik is shutting down its ski operations Sunday and Monday due to the frigid conditions.
Minneapolis park officials say they won't be operating the popular tubing hill in Wirth park. All ice rink warming houses are also being closed until Tuesday. St. Paul was closing its ice rinks and its Como Park ski hill.
Missouri
The Missouri Department of Transportation reported that most major roadways were covered and clearing them was a challenge for two reasons: The wind was blowing cleared snow back onto the pavement, and it was so cold the salt used to melt ice and snow wasn't very effective.MoDOT encouraged people to stay in unless absolutely necessary. The conditions were so bad they were a danger even to MoDOT workers driving the plows and trucks, spokeswoman Marie Elliott said.
In St. Louis, volunteers were out searching for people living on the streets, under bridges and in tents, taking them to shelters. A special shelter set up by the city of St. Louis at a recreation center drew 124 homeless by Sunday morning, and will remain open through the cold snap, said William Siedhoff, director of the city's Human Services.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported several weather-related accidents, but there were no immediate reports of fatal wrecks. Lambert Airport had more than 130 flight cancellations. Things were better at Kansas City International Airport, though there were a couple of dozen flights delayed or canceled, according to the airport's website.
St. Louis was at a virtual standstill. The Gateway Arch, St. Louis Art Museum, the Fox Theatre and St. Louis Zoo were part of the seemingly endless list of entities that closed. Shopping malls and movie theaters closed, too. Even Hidden Valley Ski Resort, the region's only ski area, shut down.
New Jersey
Authorities say numerous accidents and spinouts were reported Sunday morning as roads turned slick and slippery. Motorists are being urged to slow down and use extra caution, especially on rural and side roads, and to delay or avoid travel if possible.
New York
In New York City, a plane from Toronto landed at Kennedy International Airport and then slid into snow on a taxiway. No injuries were reported, but the airport temporarily suspended operations for domestic and international flights because of icy runways. Meanwhile, an 11-car accident on the icy Staten Island Expressway closed a stretch of the roadway Sunday morning, NBC New York reports.North Dakota
The North Dakota Department of Transportation has issued a travel alert for the southwestern part of the state as blowing snow is reducing visibility. Drivers were encouraged to reduce speeds and be ready for rapidly changing conditions and extremely cold wind chills.Tennessee
Winter weather caused the cancelation of flights and delays of more than three hours at airports in Nashville and Memphis on Sunday. The Metro Nashville government said it was partnering with local organizations to make sure shelters were available. Some school districts have canceled classes Monday due to the forecast.Virginia
The National Weather Service has issued wind chill warnings that take effect Monday evening from the Alleghany Highlands southeast to the Virginia Piedmont, including the Roanoke and New River valleys, and areas west of the Blue Ridge. Those areas could see wind chills of minus 30 degrees.Wisconsin
The cities of Milwaukee and Madison canceled school Monday as life-threatening temperatures from Winter Storm Ion plunged in the state.Despite the dangerous cold, Green Bay Packers fans were expected to pack Lambeau Field for Sunday's NFL playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. It could be among the coldest ever played: It was 5 degrees at kickoff at 3:40 p.m. CST, warmer than expected.
MORE: Winter Storm Ion Brings Snow, Plunging Temperatures
A garden gnome sits up to its chin in snow Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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