Freezing temperatures have taken over the United States this past week after an arctic blast windchill swept the nation. Temperatures reached as low as 20° Fahrenheit (negative 6.7° Celsius) to -40° F (-40° C) in some states. An advisory for dangerous cold and winds was issued for about 150 million Americans, warning people to stay indoors and travel cautiously. How cold it gets will vary by region and has been moving eastward, with forecasters warning that it could worsen in some places.
The winter storm began at the end of last week, leaving some parts of the Midwest, Northeast, and Great Plains covered in snow. Meteorologists reported snowfall rates that would reach one inch of snow per hour on Monday afternoon. The National Weather Service expects new records to be tied or broken during this storm.
Severe weather warnings were issued from coast to coast, with about 80% of the country experiencing subzero temperatures overnight. As a result, many schools shut down for the day on Tuesday. Around 110,000 businesses and homes were left without power on Monday night. The majority of them were located in Oregon, which started on Saturday. Monday winds and an expected ice storm on Tuesday may delay restoration efforts.
In Portland, Oregon, transportation officials discourage citizens from traveling on Tuesday due to hazardous roads from half an inch of freezing rain. The freezing rain was expected to weigh down trees and power lines, leading them to fall. Multnomah County in Portland had a record number of 12 emergency overnight shelters on Saturday night when temperatures hit 17° F ( -8.3° C) serving a record number of 1,136 people. The city has thousands of people experiencing homelessness living on the streets, leading to a high demand for volunteers for these shelters.
Swirling snow and avalanche warnings caused many road closures across the Rocky Mountains. There have been three avalanches in the last few days across the country, one in California, one in Utah, and another in Wyoming. All three killed at least one person and injured others. Another avalanche in Colorado left 10 occupied cars trapped under the snow, with no casualties. There have been at least nine fatalities during this winter storm.
The National Weather Service issued freeze warnings for the deep South. The Mississippi Valley and Tennessee Valley experienced freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Mississippi was warned of a “long duration freeze” that could last up until Thursday. Alabama and Louisiana also received these warnings. Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee experienced the temperature drop to 15–20° F. Some areas of Tennessee experienced up to eight inches of snow, causing the legislature to cancel all their meetings this week.
Texas’ electrical grid operator asked people to conserve energy during this freeze, including turning off lights and avoiding the use of large appliances. Energy companies and the state’s grid set three records for supply and demand to meet all energy needs across the state. After Winter Storm Uri in Feb. 2021, the state’s legislature put reforms in place to address the shortages that occurred. In 2021, Winter Storm Uri caused millions of Texans to be without heat, water, and electricity, leading to casualties. State leaders are confident that the grid will hold up and power the state of Texas through this arctic blast.
Freezing rain and snow were forecasted for the week on the East Coast, including Washington D.C. and New York. Philadelphia is expected to break its 714–day record without an inch of snow. The Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers had a game scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14 but was postponed until Monday due to the snowstorm. The NFL playoff game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, was not canceled, and instead, the Buffalo Bills commissioned fans to help shovel more than a foot and a half of snow to open seats and clear the walkways.
Forty-nine states were given an alert for this life-threatening winter storm.
More than 9,000 flights have been canceled or delayed due to this winter storm. Houston, Dallas, Chicago, and Denver had the most cancellations. FlightAware reported that about 2,900 cancellations were made on Monday, in and out of the US. Another 2,000 were canceled on Tuesday.
The weather forecast for the country next weekend indicates that there will be another arctic blast hitting the nation. The Weather Prediction Center stated that, “While temperatures are forecast to be generally 15-30°F below average, this second round of cold temperatures should be less extreme than the current cold wave at most locations.” Eastern and central US is expected to get hit the hardest on Friday and Saturday.
Share This Post On
0 comments
Leave a comment
You need to login to leave a comment. Log-in
