Winter storms are sweeping across the United States with below-zero wind chill temperatures covering the Midwest, reaching down into the deep south. These conditions are not only matching, but breaking existing low temperature records.
Close to 80 percent of the United States will see below-freezing temperatures over the next week as more freezing winter storms spread across the country by late week.
“These wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in a few minutes and hypothermia shortly thereafter,” states the National Weather Service.
Due to these dangerous conditions, many cities and counties have called for a travel ban, with many schools shutting down or changing schedules. Many government officials recommend everyone to stay inside until the storms subside.
Cities like Houston are having random power outages with mandatory shut offs to water pipes to prevent damage to the infrastructure. Many citizens, already concerned for how long the storms will last, are worried the storms will be the same or much worse as the 2023-2024 North American winter.
The National Weather Service suggests, “Avoid outside activities if possible. If you must be outside, wear appropriate clothing, dress in layers, and cover exposed skin. Keep pets indoors. Have a cold survival kit if you must travel.”
More than three million people in the Northwest received ice storm warnings early Wednesday, Jan. 17, after a new storm moved towards the region on on Jan. 16.
Freezing winds and rain knocked out power along the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday Morning as ice accumulated on power lines. More than 85,000 homes and businesses in Oregon were without power.
Slick, icy conditions were determined on roads in at least six southern states on Jan. 16. Transportation departments urged people to stay home and off roads as they try to stabilize the conditions for safer travel.
I-84 from west side Portland to the eastern side of Oregon was shut down on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning due to dangerous, icy conditions announced by the state’s Department of Transportation.
Around twelve deaths have been reported across Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas and Oregon related to the winter storms across the US.
More than 10,000 flights have been canceled since Friday, January 12. Most cancellations on Jan. 16 were in the East because of the snow storms, but the issues with flights reach as far west as Denver.
“Brief reprieve from the frigid air is expected as the air mass moderates beginning Wednesday, leading to below average (but not brutally cold temperatures) in its wake. Unfortunately, the break will not last long as another surge of Arctic air reaches the Plains states and Deep South by Thursday-Friday,” said the Weather Service.
