At least 35 fatalities have been recorded in states across the United States grappling with severe cold, as per local authorities. The National Weather Service issued alerts for extreme and hazardous cold on Tuesday morning, spanning from Texas to Pennsylvania, with some regions anticipating wind chills as low as minus -29 degrees Celsius. Much of the country was not expected to surpass freezing temperatures throughout Tuesday, with a further drop in temperatures predicted overnight. Thermometers in northern Florida were projected to plummet to -3.9 degrees Celsius late Tuesday into early Wednesday.
The harsh cold persisted following storms that blanketed over 2,100 kilometers from Arkansas to New England over the weekend and Monday, leaving parts of the South covered in perilous ice. Lisa Patterson, who initially planned to weather the storm at her family’s Nashville residence, had to be rescued with her husband and dog after losing power, encountering fallen trees blocking their driveway, and realizing their wood stove was insufficient against the frigid weather.
The Patterson family, like many others in Tennessee and surrounding regions, sought refuge in warming shelters as crews endeavored to restore power to hundreds of thousands of households. The arrival of more arctic air meant freezing temperatures were expected on Tuesday in areas already cloaked in snow and ice.
Tragic incidents unfolded amidst the wintry conditions, including the heartbreaking loss of three young brothers aged six, eight, and nine who perished after falling through ice on a private pond near Bonham, Texas. Additionally, fatalities resulted from individuals being struck by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, sledding accidents claiming the lives of teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman found deceased under snow in Kansas. In New York City, eight individuals were discovered deceased outdoors during the cold weekend.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear cautioned about the severe cold potentially leading to frostbite or hypothermia in as little as 10 minutes of exposure outdoors. Weather forecasters hinted at the likelihood of another winter storm affecting parts of the East Coast over the upcoming weekend.
Despite ongoing efforts, there were approximately 550,000 power outages nationwide on Tuesday morning, predominantly concentrated in the South due to freezing rain causing damage to tree limbs and power lines. In Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves reported significant damage to homes and roads following the state’s most severe ice storm since 1994, prompting the University of Mississippi to cancel classes for the entire week due to hazardous icy conditions on its Oxford campus.
New York City faced one of its snowiest days in years, prompting closures of the largest public school system in the country. Meanwhile, in Nashville, Nathan Hoffner had to send his son to stay with his mother after their rental house lost power, leaving Hoffner and his roommate to endure the cold by layering up with clothing and blankets as temperatures inside the home drastically dropped overnight.
The challenging weather conditions continue to pose risks and disruptions across the country, with authorities urging caution and preparedness in the face of the ongoing winter challenges.