A massive winter storm continued to paralyse large areas of the US, claiming at least 30 lives as freezing temperatures, snow, and power outages entered a second day. The entire nation was left to endure sub-zero nights with no power after the storm dumped a foot or more of snow from the South to the Northeast.
Snow blankets multiple states, travel hit hard
The powerful winter storm dumped a foot or more of snow across a 2,100km area from Arkansas to New England, leading to road closures, flight cancellations, and school closures. Areas north of Pittsburgh saw 20 inches of snow, with wind chills as low as -25°F (-31°C) late Monday into early Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters predicted that the freezing temperatures that have gripped almost two-thirds of the country are unlikely to abate anytime soon. Another burst of Arctic air is expected to keep temperatures below freezing in areas where snow and ice have accumulated, with the potential for another storm system to hit the East Coast later this week.
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Death toll rises amid extreme cold
Reportedly, officials linked several deaths directly to storm conditions. In Massachusetts and Ohio, two people were killed by snowploughs. In Arkansas and Texas, teens died in sledging incidents. A woman was found dead in the snow in Kansas after she was last seen leaving a bar. In New York City, eight people died over the weekend outdoors, and officials are still trying to determine the cause of the deaths.
Power outages stretch on in the South
More than 560,000 homes and businesses remained without power nationwide by Monday evening, according to tracking data. The majority of the outages occurred in the South, where freezing rain caused the fall of trees and power lines. The northern part of Mississippi and Tennessee were among the worst-hit areas, with officials indicating that power may not be restored for days.
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Mississippi officials declared that this is the worst ice storm to hit the state since 1994. Emergency materials were dispatched to warming centres, and classes were cancelled.
Flights cancelled, hotels fill up
The storm disrupted air travel nationwide, causing over 12,000 flight delays and cancellations on Monday alone. Major hubs, including Dallas–Fort Worth, were hardest hit, and this had a ripple effect across the nation. In some cities, hotels were full as people sought refuge from cold and dark homes.
