Winter Weather Warnings Urge Drivers Not to Travel in 4 States

National Weather Service (NWS) warnings are urging motorists not to drive in four states as an ice storm makes for hazardous travel.

A winter storm brought freezing rain and "significant icing" across the central Plains on Monday, the NWS reported. Meteorologists predicted that the storm would spread rapidly toward the Midwest later in the day and would be followed by a bout of freezing rain in that region as well.

As of late Monday morning, ice storm warnings were in place for Oregon, eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas and southern Missouri, prompting the NWS to advise motorists against traveling in parts of those states.

"Travel is strongly discouraged. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power outages," the warnings said.

Up to half an inch of ice was expected to accumulate in Oklahoma, disrupting the morning commute. Ice began rapidly accumulating overnight and had a substantial impact on travel along Interstate 35.

The ice storm warning will remain in effect for the eastern part of the state until Monday afternoon.

"Drone perspective of the mass chaos on I35 from ice storm and rapid ice accretion rates with wave of freezing rain," AccuWeather meteorologist Reed Timmer posted on X, formerly Twitter, overnight on Sunday.

Timmer also shared a video update about Oklahoma roads on Monday morning, in which he referred to the slick roads as an "ice skating rink".

In Missouri, up to a quarter inch of ice was expected to accumulate.

"Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous," the NWS warning said. "Power outages and tree damage are possible due to the ice. Travel could be nearly impossible."

Additional ice accumulations of two tenths to four tenths of an inch were expected in Arkansas.

The ice storm warning in Oregon was expected to expire by 10 a.m. local time as temperatures climbed above freezing, although spotty freezing rain could occur again later on Monday. NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Marc Chenard told Newsweek that the threat in Oregon was "winding down".

"If there's anything lingering there, it's very localized in some valley locations," he said.

The ice storm comes as much of the central U.S. is under a winter weather advisory. Some of the Midwest will experience the ice storm overnight on Monday, posing problems for the morning commute on Tuesday.

Chenard told Newsweek that Illinois, Indiana and possibly Ohio will experience the ice threat overnight Monday. Later in the week, he said northern New England also could have freezing rain.

"A glaze of ice is possible on surfaces and untreated roads during the overnight hours," a warning from the NWS Indianapolis office said. "Warmer air surging north will change freezing rain over to plain rain during the early morning hours Tuesday. Watch out for patchy slick spots during the Tuesday morning commute."