The United States is currently in the grip of a perilous Arctic blast, which has plunged over three-quarters of the country into sub-zero temperatures, resulting in at least four fatalities.
Among the victims was a woman in Oregon who tragically lost her life when a tree fell onto her recreational vehicle (RV).
The frigid conditions are predicted to establish new record lows on Monday and Tuesday, affecting regions from Oregon to Mississippi, which constitutes approximately 79% of the country. The extreme weather has also jeopardized an NFL playoff game and the Iowa caucuses.
Over the past weekend, the combination of fierce winds and a slushy amalgamation of snow and ice led to the collapse of around 100 trees in a community located south of Portland, Oregon. One of these trees fell onto an RV, igniting a fire that claimed the life of a woman in her 30s. Three other individuals managed to escape the ill-fated mobile home, where, according to KOIN6, firefighters discovered that an open flame had been used for heating.
In another unfortunate incident in Oregon, a man was killed when a tree fell onto his house. Two additional deaths were reported, suspected to be due to hypothermia.
The National Weather Service has issued a warning about severe wind chills that could drive temperatures 30 degrees below zero, affecting areas from the Northern Rockies to northern Kansas and Iowa. Despite the harsh wind chills, which are expected to reach the negative 30s, Iowa is still set to host the first-in-the-nation presidential nominating contest on Monday.
Former President Donald Trump, during a campaign stop on Sunday, encouraged his supporters not to be deterred by the weather. "You can't sit home," he urged. "If you're sick as a dog, you say, 'Darling, I gotta make it.' Even if you vote and then pass away, it's worth it."
The Arctic storms have left tens of thousands of people in the Northwest without power, covered vast areas of the South with snow, and battered the Northeast with blizzard conditions and snow squalls. This led to the postponement of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills NFL playoff game, which was to be held in the freezing conditions of Buffalo, New York.
The game was rescheduled for Monday after being canceled on Sunday, but its fate remains uncertain due to the heavy lake-effect snow expected to add to the 1 to 2 feet of snow already blanketing the region.
The Bills invited fans to assist in clearing the snow at Highmark Stadium, offering $20 per hour for their efforts. However, according to storm chaser Logan Eschrich, who traveled to Buffalo to help, progress has been slow.
Approximately 100 million people across the US are under wind chill advisories as sub-zero wind chills grip much of the country, with temperatures dropping to a bone-chilling 50 degrees below zero in Montana and the Dakotas.
CNN reported that winds of up to 25 mph could cause frostbite on exposed skin in just 30 minutes. In South Dakota, wind chills as low as -45 can cause frostbite in as little as 5 minutes.
Other parts of the country could see temperatures drop 25 to 40 degrees below normal, from the Rockies to the Ohio Valley. More than 140 daily cold records could be broken Monday and Tuesday from Oregon to Mississippi.
States including Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana have declared emergencies as the Arctic storm sweeps through the country. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves issued a state of emergency on Sunday to enhance response and recovery efforts.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear also declared a state of emergency, urging his state's residents to stay "weather-aware."
As temperatures in Texas plunged, the states power grid operator asked residents to voluntarily conserve electricity Monday due to the cold weather causing record breaking demand for energy, less than three years after a deadly freeze in 2021 left millions of Texans without power.
Widespread power outages affecting tens of thousands were reported Sunday in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In Nebraska, the Omaha Public Power District also appealed to customers to conserve electricity to prevent blackouts.
Airports across the country were impacted by the Arctic blast. More than half of flights into and out of Buffalo Niagara International Airport were canceled. Scores of flights also were canceled or delayed at Chicago, Denver and Seattle-Tacoma airports.
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