A powerful winter storm swept across central and southern states to the East Coast on Monday, creating dangerous travel conditions, power outages, and widespread disruptions. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures caused schools, businesses, and government offices to shut down across multiple states.

The storm stranded over 600 motorists in Missouri and triggered hundreds of accidents in Virginia, Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky. State police in Indiana reported 259 crashes by midday Monday, while Kentucky troopers dealt with 170 accidents and assisted over 280 stranded drivers. In Maryland, police responded to 123 crashes and numerous disabled vehicles.

Air travel was heavily impacted, with more than 800 flights delayed or canceled at Washington, D.C., area airports, including Reagan National and Dulles International. Chicago O’Hare saw 730 flights affected, while icy conditions shut down routes into Cincinnati, which recorded a record 8 inches of snow.

In Kentucky, ice-coated trees brought down power lines, leaving half of Magoffin County without electricity at the peak of outages. Road crews faced challenges clearing rural roads littered with fallen trees. Warming centers opened to help residents without power, as temperatures were expected to plummet later in the week. Governor Andy Beshear urged residents to avoid travel, warning of treacherous road conditions. “A half an inch of ice is very hard to treat, especially when it coats everything,” Beshear said.

President Joe Biden’s travel plans were adjusted due to the storm. Air Force One departed from a hangar at Joint Base Andrews, rather than the tarmac, as Biden headed to New Orleans. Reporters were barred from capturing the boarding process due to Air Force security policies.

Two-time Olympian Clare Egan made the best of Washington D.C.’s rare snowfall, skiing on the National Mall after more than 5 inches of snow blanketed the capital. Egan, a biathlete, called it “the best snow day ever.”

Schools across Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland canceled classes, while Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and closed state offices. In Indianapolis, all health department clinics and walk-in services were shut down.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb activated the National Guard to assist local responders in managing storm-related emergencies. Essential travel restrictions were implemented in several counties to minimize risks on icy roads.

Officials continue to urge residents to stay off roads, monitor forecasts, and heed local warnings. Airlines reminded passengers of refund rights for canceled flights and encouraged travelers to check the status of flights before heading to the airport.

The storm has underscored the challenges of winter weather, with authorities racing to restore power and clear roads ahead of an expected deep freeze later in the week.