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.
Watch as truck hauled out of snow in New York amid extreme cold
ICYMI: Two tornadoes touched down in Florida earlier this week
Two tornadoes touched down in southeast Florida on Monday, local outlet WPBF reports.
While only minor damages have been reported, according to WPBF, the tornadoes came after several tornadoes touched down throughout the state last week during Storm Finn, causing widespread damage to the Florida panhandle.
One of Monday’s tornadoes touched down in Stuart, Florida near a major roadway, according to footage captured by a driver, per WeatherNation.
Three people killed after power line falls on car amid Oregon storms
Three people have died after a power line fell onto a car in Northeast Portland on Wednesday morning following a severe storm in Oregon.
Firefighters were called to reports of a “person on fire” just before 11:45 am on Wednesday, officials said, where they found three people and a small child lying in the street.
The four people were found around 35 feet from an SUV which had a powerline draped over it that had been pinned down by a large tree branch, fire officials added.
Officials said two adults and one teenager were found dead at the scene, while a two-year-old was taken to the hospital without injuries.
Fire department officials added that callers reported that someone grabbed the small child off of one of the adults on the ground before a nearby resident came outside with the child when fire crews arrived.
Spokesperson Rick Graves said a branch had fallen on a power line, causing it to fall onto an SUV.
Officials suspect that the people were frightened and attempted to leave the car, but were electrocuted after they got out of the vehicle.
The power company later de-energized the line, a statement added without specifying which company.
Do not go near downed wires, says official after three die in Oregon
An official in Oregon has warned that people should not go near downed power lines after three people were killed in the region on Wednesday.
Officials said two adults and one teenager were found dead after a fallen branch caused a power line to fall on their car.
Investigators suspect that the people were frightened and attempted to leave the car, but were electrocuted after they got out of the vehicle.
Spokesperson Rick Graves said if a powerline comes down on a vehicle, occupants should stay inside and call 911 unless there is “imminent danger.”
The car’s rubber tires will block the current, he added.
“In all likelihood, had they stayed in the vehicle, we might not have been having this conversation,” Mr Graves continued.
Another Arctic blast expected late this week
Another Arctic blast is expected late this week, according to the National Weather Service.
Storm Indigo will continue to travel east this week, The Weather Channel reported, bringing up to five inches of snow to New York later this week.
The NWS has also warned that another frigid Arctic airmass will bring temperatures 20-30 degrees below normal to the east of the country.
In the meantime, the East Coast will see a return to more typical Winter temperatures following a brutal cold front earlier in the week.
In pictures: Oregon
In pictures: Buffalo, New York
Snow Storm in NYC and Washington expected on Friday
A fast-moving storm will drop snow from New York to Washington on Friday.
Between one and three inches of snow is likely in New York, while four to five inches is the reasonable worst-case scenario, according to NWS officials.
Meanwhile, two inches of snow is expected in Washington DC.
The system will also fuel storms on the eastern sides of lakes Michigan, Erie and Ontario.
Lake effect snow warnings are in place in Buffalo, where an additional eight to 14 inches could fall in narrow bands east of Lake Erie.
North of Lake Ontario, as much as 22 inches could fall.
In New York City, the snow will last through the day on Friday before tapering off overnight. It will be followed by a clod blast before temperatures return to normal levels next week.
Three people have died after a power line fell onto a car in northeast Portland on Wednesday morning following a severe storm in Oregon.
Firefighters were called to reports of a “person on fire” just before 11.45 am on Wednesday near the intersection of Northeast 122nd Avenue and Siskiyou Street, officials said, where they found three people and a small child lying in the street.
The four people were found around 35 feet from an SUV which had a powerline draped over it that had been pinned down by a large tree branch, fire officials added.
Officials said two adults and one teenager were found dead at the scene, while a two-year-old was taken to the hospital without injuries.
Martha McHardy has more on the tragic incident:
Three people killed after power line falls on car amid Oregon storms
If a powerline comes down on a vehicle, occupants should stay inside and call 911 unless there is ‘imminent danger,’ an official warned
New York City will see arctic temperatures this weekend: NWS
New York City residents can expect 1-3 inches of snow — or 4-5 inches in the reasonable worst-case scenario — on Friday, the National Weather Service said.
Afterwards, an arctic air mass will travel to the region, bringing wind chills that could approach 0F (-17C) through Sunday. At those temperatures, frostbite could set in within half-an-hour.
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