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.
Driving ban in place near Buffalo after heavy snowfall
A driving ban has been put in place for towns to the south and east of Buffalo, New York, this morning after about six inches fell overnight due to lake effect snow.
The towns of Hamburg, Orchard Park, West Seneca, Lancaster and Cheektowaga, including all surrounding villages, and the city of Lackawanna are all covered by the ban
A travel advisory is also in place across Erie County.
Six confirmed dead in Tennessee in weather-related incidents
Six people have died in Tennessee in weather-related incidents, the state’s Emergency Management Agency said last night.
Two people died in Shelby County, one in Hickman County, one in Madison County and two in Washington County. No more details were released on the identities of the dead nor the causes of the deaths.
This brings the total number of people who are suspected to have died in weather-related incidents up to 19.
A state of emergency was declared across Tennessee on 13 January It is not scheduled to be lifted until 27 January.
People across the state have been urged by authorities to reduce electricity use where possible and turn thermostats down to 68 degrees or lower.
Some locations across Middle Tennessee fell below -10 degrees overnight, the state’s branch of the NWS said, while a record 6.3 inches of snow fell in Nashville on on Monday, higher than the average yearly snow total for the city from 1991 to 2020 of 4.7 inches.
State of emergency declared in Oregon county
A state of emergency has been declared in Oregon county after it was hit severely by winter weather.
“Lane County has suffered extensive damage as a result of the winter storm conditions that we’re seeing across Oregon,” Governor Tina Kotek said in a statement. “This emergency declaration will support the county in accessing critical federal resources to aid in reconstruction and recovery efforts.”
In Portland, Oregon, county officials are investigating five possible hypothermia deaths, according to The Portland Tribune, with two more killed over the weekend when trees fell on their homes.
Ten million residents in Tennessee urged to reduce consumption amid extreme cold
Ten million residents in Tennessee have been urged to conserve energy as the demand for electricity skyrockets to record levels amid extreme cold.
The Tennessee Valley Authority said it was asking customers to “be aware of their power consumption” between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET).
“Extremely cold temperatures and near-zero wind chill cause an increase in power demand for heating over an extended period of time for more than 10 million people across the TVA seven-state region,” the company said.
No, this month’s winter storms does not mean the climate crisis isn’t real
While arctic winds and snow might seem like quite the change after 2023, the hottest year on global record by a wide margin, this month’s weather patterns don’t indicate that global warming is getting better — or that there is no climate crisis.
Cold weather events can and still do occur as our planet warms, even as we approach the 1.5C (2.7F) temperature goal set by the global Paris Agreement to prevent the most harmful consequences of the climate crisis.
In fact, a warming climate can sometimes increase the likelihood of unusual cold weather events.
For example, climate change is responsible for increasing the frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation, according to a widely-cited, peer-reviewed study from 2015.
Further, a warmer atmosphere can also hold more water, leading to more rain and snow, according to Climate Signals, a nonprofit that specializes in climate attribution research. New research also indicates a warming Arctic may lead to arctic air outbreaks in the US — just like what we’re seeing today across the country.
While we’re not yet clear on how climate change has impacted this specific storm spell, we do know this: This month’s storms do not indicate the climate crisis has disappeared.
Winter Storm Indigo Brings quarter-inch of ice to Portland, Oregon
Winter Storm Indigo has brought ice and snow to the Pacific Northwest and will continue to travel east this week, The Weather Channel reports.
Portland, Oregon is covered in a quarter-inch of ice, and more than 80,000 customers are without power as of Wednesday morning, according to PowerOutage.us.
Storm Indigo will travel east and bring even more snowfall from Washington DC to New York later this week, The Weather Channel forecasts.
Brief reprieve from brutal cold temperatures expected today before Arctic Blast returns
Wednesday will bring a brief reprieve from arctic temperatures before they return later this week.
The National Weather Service has warned that the Northern and Central Plains could experience below-average temperatures from Thursday as the Arctic Blast moves southwards. The cold front will then move into the Southern US on Friday, the weather service added.
It will follow a warmer day in southern Texas and along the Gulf Coast today where temperatures will return to the 60s and 70s by Thursday.
“Although this surge of Arctic air does not look quite as extreme as the first, bitterly cold temperatures are still possible portions the Central Plains this weekend,” the NWS said.
SEE IT: Winter storm downs trees in Oregon
Portland, Oregon is underneath a quarter-inch of ice as an ice-storm continues to hit the Pacific Northwest through Wednesday. More than 75,000 people in the state are without power as of Wednesday morning, according to PowerOutage.us.
New York, Connecticut could see up to 5 inches of snow Friday: NWS
Parts of New York — including New York City — and Connecticut could see up to 5 inches of snow Friday, per the National Weather Service (NWS).
1-3 inches of snow are likely, while 4-5 inches is the reasonable worst-case scenario, according to NWS officials.
Meanwhile, another arctic blast will hit the region over the weekend, bringing possible sub-zero wind chill temperatures. Under those conditions, the NWS warns frostbite could occur within just 30 minutes.
ICYMI: Deadly winter storms exposed 112-year-old shipwreck in Maine
Amid flooding, snow and freezing rain across the US, treacherous weather in Maine brought a rare glimpse of a 112-year-old shipwreck at Acadia National Park.
The two-masted sailing schooner named “Tay” ran aground on Mount Desert Island in July 1911 when it struck a ledge during a storm, resulting in the death of the ship’s cook, according to an article in the Bar Harbor Record at the time.
The Tay quickly broke into pieces and a large portion of the ship’s cargo was washed ashore by the waves as its Captain I.W. Scott tried unsuccessfully to make it to harbor. But last week, following storms across the country, part of the shipwreck was brought to the surface, washing up on Mount Desert Island’s Sand Beach after being buried for decades.
Martha McHardy has more:
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments