Winter storms leave 89 dead across US as chill settles over Great Lakes and Northeast
A downed power line killed three in Oregon as northeast braces for more snow
At least 89 people have been killed across the country over the past two weeks as severe weather plagues the United States, according to an updated count by CBS News.
The most winter weather-related deaths have occurred in Tennessee after a truck spun out of control due to snowy conditions, causing it to slam into a tractor-trailer.
The governor of Oregon declared a state of emergency as its state is being pelted with freezing rain and winter storms that have led to fallen trees, massive power outages and at least 16 deaths.
Two adults and one teenager died after a power line fell onto a car in northeast Portland on Wednesday morning following a severe storm in Oregon. Officials also found an uninjured two-year-old on the scene whom they took to the hospital.
Now, several inches of lake-effect snow is hitting the Great Lakes region and northeast US, while arctic temperatures settle over the southeast US.
In Florida, meteorologists say low temperatures could impact wildlife, leading to a rare weather-related phenomenon: falling iguanas.
The severe winter storms have also unleashed travel chaos across the country, leading to thousands of flight cancellations and delays across the country.
Sub-zero temperatures cause Chicago mayor to postpone migrant shelter evictions
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cited the bitter temperatures when announcing that migrants living in the city’s shelters would not have to leave before 1 February, an extension of the 60-day period that migrants are allowed to stay in shelters, according to reports.
“To be clear, we’re not evicting new arrivals out into the cold,” Mayor Johnson said last week after he announced an initial extension until 22 January, WTTW reported.
That decision impacts at least 650 migrants, the outlet wrote.
After the initial extension, Illinois Gov JB Pritzker wrote a letter condemning Gov Greg Abbott, who has been ordering migrants to be bused to Chicago. “The next few days are a threat to the families and children you are sending here” due to the extreme cold, he wrote.
“We refuse to play your political game of exploiting the most vulnerable for the sake of culture wars and talking points,” Mr Pritzker added. “You seem to have no interest in working on bipartisan solutions to the border crisis because that would put an end to your cruel political game, but I am writing to you today hoping to appeal to your humanity.”
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West Virginia’s winter storm leads to legislative delays
The West Virginia Legislature ended early on Friday because not enough lawmakers could make it to the state Capitol, due to the snow, according to the AP.
Snow is supposed to continue through Friday into Saturday. Following the snow showers, West Virginians can expect “frigid weather,” the National Weather Service predicted.
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The severity of the storms
Storms and frigid temperatures have sparked chaos across the country.
More than 100 million people are under winter weather alerts across the Pacific Northwest, Northern Plains, Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast, CNN reported.
Already, more than 50 people have died due to the extreme winter weather.
Oregon’s governor issued a state of emergency on Thursday evening, asking for federal resources after winter storms resulted in downed power lines and hazardous conditions that have damaged infrastructure.
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Iguanas may once again be falling from the sky in southwest Florida over the weekend.
Matt Devitt, the chief meteorologist for WINK News in Florida, shared a graphic on Thursday warning residents “from Sanibel to Cape Coral to Naples” to keep an eye open for raining reptiles.
The temperature in the state’s southwest is expected to drop into the 40s — 30s with windchill — over the weekend. The cold snap is part of a broader system that brought snow and ice to huge swaths of the US this week.
Iguanas typically prefer hot climates, ideally no lower than 75 degrees Fahrenheit. But every so often temperatures drop enough — 45F or lower — to essentially force the cold-blooded lizards into a flash hibernation until warmer air returns.
This can cause tree-dwelling Iguanas to fall from branches and onto the ground. Residents in Florida are regularly warned to leave the stiff iguanas alone. Even though the reptiles aren’t moving, they’re still alive, and can recover once the climate suits their scales.
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Warning of falling iguanas as temperatures plummet amid winter storms
Volunteers shovel NFL stadium ahead of playoff game
The Buffalo Bills have once again put out a call for volunteers to help shovel snow inside the stadium ahead of their NFL playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Thursday the team asked fans, known as the Bills Mafia, to help get the home field in Orchard Park, New York, game-ready.
Volunteers will be paid $20 per hour for their work, which is scheduled to take place throughout Friday afternoon and evening before the game on Sunday.
It comes as the National Weather Service predicted that Orchard Park – where the Highmark Stadium is located – could see up to eight inches of snow between Thursday night and Saturday.
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