Published: January 14,2017
Winter Storm Jupiter has claimed a third victim in Oklahoma as the powerful storm treks east.
Multiple media outlets reported that at least one person was killed in a semi-truck accident on I-40 west of Weatherford, Oklahoma. This brings the total death toll in the storm to three, with two other deaths reported in Missouri.
Freezing rain and ice created dangerous road conditions from Oklahoma and Kansas to mid-Missouri and Southern Illinois and at least two people have been killed as a result of dangerous travel conditions. Several states declared states of emergency ahead of the storm, and accidents have been reported across the region.
These states have been preparing for days for Jupiter, which could cause widespread power outages and leave millions of residents stranded for days. Already, the storm has left thousands without power in the Pacific Northwest and caused major travel problems in the higher elevations.
(MORE: Check the Forecast for Winter Storm Jupiter)
Missouri
A 35-year-old Missouri man was killed early Saturday morning when he was ejected from a vehicle and hit by another motorist in a large pileup in the southbound lane of I-29.Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that the 2008 Ford Econoline was traveling in the left lane before veering off of the road and overturning, ejecting 35-year-old Maung Hnin. The incident report states that Hnin was then struck by an unidentified vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly thereafter by deputies from the Platte County Sheriff's Office.
Highway patrol officials would not comment on if the accident was weather-related, but several other vehicles were involved in the incident and as many as six people reported injuries ranging from minor to moderate.
Weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce said northwest Missouri saw an initial wave of freezing rain late Friday just before midnight.
"Though the precipitation was light, that's all it takes to create very hazardous travel conditions," he said.
A Missouri woman who died in a fatal accident that occurred on northbound I-55 Friday morning has been identified as 33-year-old Tiffany Jackson of Crystal City, Missouri, KMOV reports.
A Missouri Highway Patrol spokesperson told KMOX that Jackson was driving too fast for conditions when she lost control of her vehicle on an ice-covered railroad bridge and slid into a tree. She was not wearing her seat belt.
The Missouri Department of Transportation said roads in the area were partially covered at the time the vehicle slid off the road and into a tree. The Highway Patrol said it responded to about 100 crashes Friday.
Friday Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens thanked the state's residents for heeding warnings to stay off roads during the ice storm but warned that the danger will last in parts of the state through Sunday.
The NFL has pushed back the start time for a playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers, which was set to kickoff in Kansas City at 1:05 EST on Sunday.
"Due to public safety concerns in light of the forecasted storm this weekend in the Kansas City area, Sunday’s Steelers-Chiefs Divisional Playoff game ... has been moved to 8:20 p.m." the league said in a press release Friday afternoon.
As of 2 p.m., airlines had canceled 83 arriving and 54 departing flights at St. Louis' Lambert International Airport as freezing rain moved into the area. St. Louis University closed due to inclement weather on Friday and canceled all campus events scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
Ameren Missouri reported about 3,000 customers without power south of St. Louis Friday, while emergency management officials in Springfield reported numerous power outages and transformers blown around the city. KSPR reported that around 2,000 City Utilities customers were without power at one time or another Friday morning.
Gov. Eric Greitens declared a state of emergency and activated the state Emergency Operations Center ahead of of the storm Thursday.
Illinois
Heavy ice coats trees in Carterville, Illinois. (John Chaney)
Energy provider Ameren is reporting more than 5,000 customers without power in Southern Illinois, where heavy ice is already accumulating on trees in Jackson and Williamson counties.
Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kelsea Gurski said Friday that they are closely monitoring the forecast information and that crews have begun pre-treating bridges and intersections in Sangamon and surrounding counties, The State Journal-Register reports.
Oklahoma
Winter Storm Jupiter is currently bringing icy conditions to many in Oklahoma and is already causing travel concerns.Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials confirmed to News9 that a fatal accident on I-40 west of Weatherford, Oklahoma, left at least one person dead on Saturday. The deceased has not been identified yet and no other reports of injuries or fatalities have been confirmed at this time.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation said it has closed I-40 west of Weatherford due to multiple accidents and slick conditions. Those on the roads are encouraged to avoid travel in the area.
Really bad accidents lining E/WB I-40 2-3 W of Weatherford, OK. 7:50a 1/14 #icestorm2017 @kfor @4WarnStormTeam @NWSNorman
Truck Hits Building After Sliding Off Tulsa Highway http://bit.ly/2iThcpe
The local news outlet reported that the pickup crashed through a chain link fence, smashed into a brick retaining wall then crashed into the side of a building at an apartment complex that was being used for storage.
"Emergency personnel are coordinating with state and local officials to ensure we are prepared and ready for whatever comes our way," Fallin said in a statement.
(MORE: What Ice Storm Accumulations Mean and How to Stay Safe)
Friday the National Weather Service issued ice storm warnings for almost 30 counties the central, western and northern parts of the state. The warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday.
Across northern and central Oklahoma, stores were packed with customers buying necessities as the potentially crippling storm inched closer. Numerous districts – including Oklahoma City Public Schools – will be closed Friday, according to a list compiled by the Oklahoman.
Energy provider OG&E plans to have more than 1,300 linemen on standby in anticipation of power outages around the state, KFOR reports.
“You want to have a plan, because you should consider you may be out for 2 or more days,” said spokesperson Kathleen O’Shea.
For more information on the status of roadways in Oklahoma, click here.
(MORE: Storms End Drought in Much of Northern California)
Kansas
Freezing rain contributed to accidents that left at least three people injured Friday.A multi-car pileup left two people with minor injuries in Sedgwick Friday. The incident occurred at the off ramp from westbound Kellog to the central Business District.
One person was injured in an accident caused by slick roads in the town of Mulvane on Rock Road and 111th Street. The roadway was shut down.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management activated the State Emergency Operations Center in Topeka to monitor the severe winter storm that is expected to cover many areas of the state with as much as one inch of ice over the weekend.
About 200 soldiers of the Kansas National Guard have been alerted to mobilize to assist local authorities with emergency response measures across the state, if needed. The soldiers will patrol key roads and hep stranded motorists, as well as provide emergency transportation for first responders. They will also provide warming stations at local armories if necessary.
Sunday's American Football Conference (AFC) divisional playoff game between the Steelers and Chiefs has been moved from an early afternoon kickoff to prime time due to the forecasted ice storm.
The game will now start at 8:20 p.m. to give road crews and public safety officials more time to treat roads and parking lots.
Western Snow
Areas of the West were buried under feet of snow, up to 10 feet in some places in the Sierra Nevada. The sheer mass of snow caused damage to several other buildings in Bend, including a gymnasium roof at an elementary school. The school district said on its website that nobody was in the gym when the roof fell at Highland Magnet at Kenton School in Bend.Three visitors were rescued after snowstorms forced them to take refuge in a heated restroom at Crater Lake National Park. Park officials told the Associated Press a rotary snow plow cleared a path on the three-mile road from park headquarters to Rim Village to reach the visitors Wednesday. Officials say none of them sustained major injuries.
Heavy snow closed a nearly 250-mile stretch of Interstate 80 in Wyoming Wednesday and Thursday due to dangerous driving conditions. The Colorado Department of Transportation briefly closed Interstate 70 westbound at mile marker 215 due to an avalanche that cut off the road west of the Eisenhower Tunnel. According to the DOT, no cars were caught in the slide.
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