Historic Winter Storm Batters Southern U.S., Leaving Seven Dead and Millions Without Power
A once-in-a-lifetime winter storm swept across the southern United States over the past few days, leaving a trail of snow, ice, and biting winds that caused chaos from Texas to New Jersey. The storm has claimed at least seven lives due to severe weather conditions, with temperatures expected to remain dangerously low across broad regions in the coming days. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of a historic cold snap along the Gulf Coast.
The NWS reported that temperatures could plummet to as low as 10 degrees Celsius below zero in states such as Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana starting from the early hours of Tuesday. Dallas and Austin prepare for snowfall and temperatures that could feel as low as -9.4°C with the wind chill.
Authorities anticipate that a new low-pressure system in southern Texas will exacerbate adverse weather conditions, potentially resulting in significant snow accumulations in surrounding areas.
The polar vortex, a mass of ultra-cold air that typically circulates over the North Pole, pushed south during the weekend, blanketing much of the country east of the Rocky Mountains with ice and snow, even reaching areas not usually affected.
Multiple cold weather alerts were issued Tuesday morning along the Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida, according to Fox Weather.
The NWS predicts more snow and ice from Thursday in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Snowfall accumulations could reach between 5 and 13 centimeters in northern Texas, while parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas could receive over 10 additional centimeters, as reported by The Associated Press (AP).
As the storm continues its path, authorities urge residents to exercise extreme caution, stay informed, and avoid unnecessary travel.
The storm has caused the closure of airports and roads, as well as the deaths of several people. Interstate highways in Kansas, Indiana, and Kentucky were covered in snow and ice, leading to accidents and total closures.
In Kentucky, a truck stop near Cincinnati filled with commercial vehicles that were forced off Interstate 75 due to treacherous conditions. Michael Taylor, a long-haul trucker traveling from Los Angeles to Georgia, told the news agency that he had seen numerous cars stuck in ditches and struggled with frozen windshield wipers before pulling over. "It was too dangerous," he said. "I didn’t want to kill myself or anyone else."
Virginia State Police responded to at least 430 accidents over 48 hours between Sunday and Monday, including a fatal one on Sunday. Kansas reported two fatal accidents over the weekend.
In total, more than 2,300 flights were canceled and another 9,100 delayed on Monday, according to flight tracking platform FlightAware cited by AP. The Washington National Reagan Airport suspended 58% of its arrivals and 70% of its departures, while the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport saw snow accumulation exceeding 20 centimeters, causing continued cancellations into the next day.
Over 218,000 customers were left without power Monday night, particularly in Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, Missouri, Illinois, and North Carolina. Crews worked tirelessly to restore power as temperatures continued to drop.
The first winter storm of the year left several states with at least seven deaths, including a child, according to Fox Weather reports.
