First of back-to-back ice storms threatens 22 states from Midwest to Northeast

The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring the development of a powerful winter storm that has tens of millions of people across at least 22 states from the Midwest to the Northeast on alert for a widespread threat of freezing rain that has already led to numerous reports of icy roads and crashes.Treacherous travel conditions have been reported in portions of Kansas and Missouri, with officials saying there have been multiple reports of stalled vehicles and crashes from Topeka, Kansas, to Kansas City, Missouri.Officials say the biggest impacts have been seen on busy highways such as Interstate 35, Interstate 70, and Interstate 435.The FOX Forecast Center said that as the storm gathers strength, impacts will begin to be seen from the mid-Mississippi Valley on Wednesday and then into the Great Lakes region by Wednesday night.Because of this, the Thursday morning commute is expected to be extremely dangerous on untreated roads and highways in cities like Chicago, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio.Winter Weather Advisories have been issued across the region and include major cities like Kansas City, Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago.The FOX Forecast Center said that dangerous travel conditions appear to be the biggest impact of this storm in those locations.That’s because forecasters believe ice accretions across the Midwest should remain low enough that only scattered power outages could occur.Temperatures are expected to climb above freezing during the day on Thursday, quickly melting any ice that built up during the storm.

However, refreezing will be a concern as we get into Thursday night.Areas to the east will see the highest potential for significant icing – especially in portions of Maryland and into the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.Power outages and tree damage are most likely in those locations, as ice accretions greater than a quarter-inch and maybe as high as a half-inch are possible.Winter weather alerts ...