Weather Conditions - Winter weather alerts are in effect for 20 million people due to a fast-moving system [1] - Some areas in the northern Rockies received nearly a foot (approximately 30 centimeters) of snow [1] - Wind gusts reached 80 mph (approximately 129 km/h) on slopes in Breen Ridge, Colorado [1] - Dangerous road conditions are present due to snow, ice, and wind [2] - Fog is reducing visibility in Arkansas [2] Temperature and Cold Weather Impacts - The coldest air is located in the northern plains, with temperatures below zero (Fahrenheit) [3] - High temperatures are expected to be 10 to 25 degrees (Fahrenheit) below average [3] - Parts of Minnesota and the Dakotas will struggle to climb above single digits (Fahrenheit) on Sunday [3] - Chicago experienced wind chills lower than expected for this time of year [2] Seasonal Observations - The current amount of snow and temperatures are considered early for this time of year [3] - Lake Superior's frozen shoreline in Wisconsin indicates the severity of the cold snap in the Midwest [2]

Disaster & Emergency Response - In Kerrville, Texas, deadly flood waters reached up to 20 feet high in just 90 minutes [6] - During the Kerrville floods, the police department had only two 911 operators on duty, struggling to handle hundreds of calls [6] - 119 people were killed in the Kerrville tragedy, including 27 girls at Camp Mystic [7] - An army veteran, Ed Bandis, received over $1.7 million in donations to help him retire [38] Weather & Safety - A winter storm caused a 10-vehicle pileup in Virginia, hospitalizing multiple people [2][14] - Temperatures in New York City dropped more than 20 degrees in less than 24 hours [16] - 13 million Americans are facing ice [17] Health & Medicine - A CDC panel voted to scrap the recommendation that all newborns should be vaccinated for Hepatitis B, a decision criticized by the American Academy of Pediatrics [18][19][20] - Cases of Hepatitis B in children have dropped 99% due to vaccines [21] Crime & Security - Thieves are using WiFi jammers, costing $60 to $70, to disable home security cameras and steal packages [29][30] - A 30-year-old man confessed to placing pipe bombs outside Democratic and Republican party offices in January 2021 [25] Technology & Transportation - Waymo announced a major software recall for its fleet of autonomous vehicles after reports of cars passing stopped school buses [35]

Travel Disruptions - Winter weather caused significant disruptions at airports and on roads in the Midwest [1] - More than 1,000 flights were canceled at Chicago's O'Hare airport after more than 8 inches (approximately 20 cm) of snow [2] - Icy conditions led to several accidents in Iowa involving cars and semi-trucks [1] - A Delta plane slid off the runway in De Moines [1] Travel Volume - More than 3 million people are expected to pass through TSA, potentially setting records [2] Safety and Security - No injuries were reported after a plane slid off the runway in Illinois [1]