A powerful blast in the Arctic unleashes record temperatures and dangerous wind chills across a vast expanse of the United States, accompanied by snow and freezing rain stretching from the south to the northeast.
Here are the latest developments:
Record cold temperatures
According cnn, Nearly 80% of the United States is expected to experience freezing temperatures over the next week, and numerous daily cold records have already been broken in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
The central and southern US may see new records fall on Tuesday, with cities such as Memphis, Dallas and Nashville anticipating staying below freezing for at least 72 consecutive hours.
Risk of frostbite in minutes
More than 120 million people from the Canadian border to the Mexican border are under wind chill alerts. Life-threatening subzero wind chills, dropping below -30 degrees in the Central Plains and mid-Mississippi Valley, pose a serious risk of frostbite within minutes and subsequent hypothermia.
Multiple deaths in all states
Since Jan. 12, at least five deaths have been reported in Arkansas, Oregon, Mississippi and Tennessee due to back-to-back winter storms that unleashed dangerous winds, ice and snow. Traffic accidents, including a fatal incident in Arkansas, highlight the difficult conditions.
Hazardous travel conditions
As snow covers New York and New England and spreads north, the National Weather Service is warning of slippery roads and hazardous travel conditions. The South has already experienced dangerous road conditions, with hundreds of incidents reported.
School closures
Frigid temperatures led to closures in school districts in several states, including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and West Virginia, affecting students and staff.
As arctic conditions persist, affecting more than 80 million people under winter weather advisories across a vast region, snow and freezing rain from the south moves into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast through Tuesday.
Downwind of the Great Lakes, heavy lake-effect snowfall is expected, causing travel disruptions. Cities like Buffalo, New York, and Watertown are bracing for significant snow accumulations, while New York, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia are seeing the return of snow after long hiatuses.
At the same time, the Pacific Northwest faces another storm, raising concerns about ice storms and affecting more than 3 million residents, including Portland. This dynamic climate scenario plays out as the nation faces an unprecedented Arctic onslaught.
