Much of the U.S. faced another night of sub-freezing temperatures and widespread power outages as a massive winter storm continued to impact the nation, bringing additional snow to the Northeast and ice to the South.
Massive Winter Storm Impacts US
At least 30 deaths have been reported in states experiencing severe cold. Deep snow – exceeding 30cm across a 2,100km stretch from Arkansas to New England – disrupted travel, cancelled flights, and prompted widespread school closures Monday.
The National Weather Service reported areas north of Pittsburgh received up to 50cm of snow and experienced wind chills as low as minus 31C late Monday into Tuesday. A fresh influx of arctic air is expected to sustain freezing temperatures in already affected areas, and forecasters suggest another winter storm could impact parts of the East Coast this weekend.
Hundreds of Thousands Without Power
More than 560,000 power outages were reported nationwide Monday evening, according to poweroutage.com, with the majority concentrated in the South. Freezing rain over the weekend caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, resulting in significant outages in northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee. Officials cautioned that power restoration could take days.
In Mississippi, officials are working to provide cots, blankets, bottled water, and generators to warming stations in the hardest-hit areas following the state’s worst ice storm since 1994. Governor Tate Reeves reported at least 14 homes, one business, and 20 public roads sustained major damage Monday evening.
The University of Mississippi cancelled classes for the entire week as its Oxford campus remained covered in ice, with most students without power. Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill stated on social media that fallen trees, limbs, and power lines created a scene resembling a tornado’s path on every street.
Tim Phillips, a real estate agent in Oxford, experienced damage to his new garage from falling tree branches, a broken window, and a loss of power. “It’s just one of those things that you try to prepare for,” Phillips said, “but this one was just unreal.”
Flight Disruptions and Travel Impacts
Nationwide, over 12,000 flights were delayed or cancelled Monday, according to flightaware.com. Sunday saw 45% of US flights cancelled, the highest rate since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Major hubs like Dallas Fort Worth International Airport were severely impacted, stranding planes and flight crews.
New England was forecast to receive additional light to moderate snow through Monday evening. New York City experienced its snowiest day in years, with accumulations ranging from 20 to 38cm. While public schools were closed, approximately 500,000 students participated in online lessons, as snow days have been eliminated due to the increased availability of remote learning.
Bitter Cold Grips Much of the Nation
Bitter cold followed the storm’s passage. Communities across the Midwest, South, and Northeast awoke Monday to subzero temperatures. The entire Lower 48 states were forecast to experience an average low temperature of minus 12.3C, the coldest since January 2014.
In the Nashville, Tennessee area, power was restored to thousands of homes and businesses Monday, but approximately 146,000 customers remained without power Monday evening. Many hotels were fully booked by residents seeking refuge from dark and frigid homes.
Alex Murray booked a Nashville hotel room for his family to ensure they had a working freezer to preserve pumped breast milk for their 6-month-old daughter, planning to extend their stay through Wednesday due to the anticipated length of the power outage. “I know there’s many people that may not be able to find a place or pay for a place or anything like that, or even travel,” Murray said. “So, we were really fortunate.”
Storm Leads to Deaths in a Number of States
In Emporia, Kansas, police found a 28-year-old teacher dead in the snow after she was last seen leaving a bar without her coat or phone. Snowploughs struck and killed two people in Norwood, Massachusetts, and Dayton, Ohio. Arkansas and Texas each reported two deaths. The cause of death for the eight people found outdoors in New York City during the frigid weekend remains under investigation.
Officials reported four deaths in Tennessee, three deaths apiece in Louisiana and Pennsylvania; two deaths in Mississippi; and one each in New Jersey, South Carolina and Kentucky.
Discover more from Archyworldys
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
