Hazardous circumstances are being created in 30 states by a big winter storm that is affecting most of the central United States and is being propelled by a polar vortex.

Heavy snow, freezing rain, and extremely cold temperatures have already been brought on by the storm, which started over the weekend. From Kansas and Missouri to New Jersey, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings.

In some areas, especially in Kansas and northern Missouri, snow accumulations of up to 14 inches (35.6 cm) are expected. The storm is expected to cause significant disruptions to daily life throughout the weekend, according to forecasters.

Travel in certain locations is predicted to be “very difficult to impossible,” thus the NWS has advised the public to exercise great caution.

Normally limited to the Arctic, the polar vortex has moved south, bringing extremely frigid temperatures to a large portion of the United States.

Road conditions that are dangerous and chaotic

Travel in the central United States is severely disrupted as the storm becomes stronger. Snow and ice will make travel dangerous, according to the NWS, with some regions reporting almost impassable highways.

An 18-mile section of Interstate 70 was blocked on Saturday due to blizzard conditions in Kansas, where snow totals could surpass 14 inches. This reduced visibility and made traffic practically impossible.

Trooper Ben Gardner of the State roadway Patrol warned drivers, “We are in it now,” as he slid across the roadway in a social media video displaying the slippery roads.