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
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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.
What should I do if my flight is cancelled?
This week’s devastating winter weather has caused travel chaos to ripple through the country.
In just the last three days, more than 3,000 flights into, out of, or within the US were cancelled, while another 20,000 were delayed. Saturday isn’t looking too much better, with more than 2,000 delayed and 362 cancelled as of this afternoon.
If you find yourself impacted, don’t panic — and read more about what to do if your flight is cancelled:
Winter weather is snarling air travel. Here's what to do if your flight is canceled
Winter weather is causing flight delays and cancellations
WATCH: Lighthouses freeze into ice sculptures in Michigan
ICYMI: Sub-zero temperatures caused 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.”
Is it too cold to walk your dog?
With arctic temperatures blowing across the US this week — and particularly impacting the southeast US today as the National Weather Service issues hard freeze warnings across several states — dog owners might be wondering how to safely get their furry friends outside.
If you’re wondering how to keep your pets safe amid these chilling temperatures, read this guide from Brittany Miller on how to check if it’s too cold to walk your dog:
Is it too cold to walk your dog? How to check
How to check if it’s too cold outside to walk your dog amid winter storms
Bundle up, New Yorkers!
New York City and the surrounding areas will see temperatures approaching 0F (-17C) tonight, the National Weather Service (NWS) warns.
If you are dressing warm now, dress even warmer if you are going out tonight and cover exposed skin,” officials with the NWS for New York posted on X. “Breezy winds and cold temperatures will lead to outdoor temperatures feeling like they are in the single digits to a few degrees below zero.”
Under these conditions, frostbite can set in within 30 minutes. Infants, elderly people, outdoor workers and unhoused people are also especially vulnerable to the consequences of arctic temperatures.
ICYMI: Winter weather caused more than 80 deaths over the last week
83 people have died due to extreme winter weather across the US in the last week, according to CBS News.
Nineteen of those deaths were in Tennessee, while another sixteen people were killed in Oregon. That total includes three people who died trying to exit their parked car after a downed power line crashed into it.
The death toll may rise again this weekend as an arctic chill freezes much of the US yet again.
SEE IT: Colorful satellite imagery illustrates several storms swirling over Pacific Ocean
Satellite imagery from the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University shows multiple storms blowing across the northeast Pacific Ocean on Friday.
North Texas braces for freezing rain Sunday and Monday
Residents of northern Texas can expect freezing rain Sunday night into Monday, officials with the National Weather Service (NWS) for Fort Worth said on X.
“Ice accumulations may impact the morning commute in some areas as bridges and overpasses become slick,” the post reads. “Temperatures will climb back above freezing after daybreak.”
Meanwhile, much of the southeast US is under a hard freeze warning from the NWS today, creating potentially dangerous driving conditions throughout the region.
It might be raining Iguanas in Florida this weekend due to cold temps
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.
Read more from Graig Graziosi:
Warning of falling iguanas as temperatures plummet amid winter storms
They’re not dead, they’re just chilling — literally
Residents of Southern Plains, Mississippi Valley should use caution on Monday morning commute
Freezing rain and ice accumulations will impact roads in the Southern Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley, officials with the National Weather Service (NWS) said.
“Ice accumulations will likely cause minor to moderate travel impacts from central/eastern Oklahoma to the St. Louis metro area, especially during the Monday morning commute,” NWS officials posted on X.
With more than 80 weather-related deaths in the US over the last week — many of which were related to car crashes or downed power lines — anyone who has to travel on roads should use extreme caution.
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