A severe winter storm blanketed Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas on January 6, causing widespread disruptions, including the closure of several federal government offices and school cancellations. The area saw more than 5 inches of snow, the highest daily snowfall recorded in the past two years.

Despite the adverse weather, the joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol to certify the results of the November presidential election proceeded without major interruptions. However, many federal government offices in the region were closed. Maryland and Virginia, neighboring Washington, D.C., declared states of emergency as the storm intensified. According to CNN, at least four fatalities were attributed to the storm nationwide.

Many public schools in Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia canceled classes for the day. Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington, D.C., urged residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, saying, "Stay home tonight and tomorrow unless you must travel. Avoid the roads at all costs."

The snowstorm also led to significant disruptions in the Midwest and Eastern U.S., with highways in Virginia, Maryland, Indiana, Kansas, and Kentucky closed due to icy conditions. From January 5 to 6, hundreds of vehicle collisions were reported across these states, according to the Associated Press.

Air travel faced significant challenges as well. By 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, over 6,300 flights—both domestic and international—had been delayed, and approximately 2,000 flights were canceled, online news outlet Axios reported. At Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, more than half of all arriving flights and nearly 65% of departing flights were canceled.

Additionally, power outages impacted tens of thousands of residents in Missouri, Virginia, Kentucky, and other states.

This winter storm has underscored the importance of safety precautions during severe weather conditions, with authorities continuing to monitor the situation and respond to ongoing disruptions.