Icy winter weather blankets US heartland, threatening low-temperature records
O’FALLON, Mo. — A wave of Arctic storms has swept across the United States, bringing icy winter weather that threatens to set low-temperature records in the heartland. From coast to coast, the country is experiencing cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, causing disruptions to football playoffs and presidential campaigns.
As the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend began, the weather forecast painted a picture of chaos. From an ice storm warning in Oregon to a blizzard warning in the northern Plains and high wind warnings in New Mexico, the entire nation is feeling the impact of this ferocious winter weather.
It’s, overall, been a terrible, terrible winter. And it came out of nowhere — two days, said Dan Abinana, a Des Moines resident. Abinana, who moved to Iowa from Tanzania, confessed that one never truly gets used to the snow.
Tragically, the harsh weather in Oregon has already claimed three lives. In Portland, a city more accustomed to mild winter rains, freezing rain and heavy snowfall led to a hypothermia death. Furthermore, a woman died in an RV fire caused by a small group of people using an open flame stove to keep warm. And in Lake Oswego, an older man lost his life when a large tree fell on his home during high winds.
Similar weather-related deaths have been reported in California, Idaho, Illinois, and Wisconsin earlier this week.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen declared a state of emergency due to the very dangerous conditions. Some areas received up to two feet of snow in the past week, accompanied by wind chills well below zero. The storm has shut down around 1,700 miles of Nebraska highways, leaving more than 400 stranded motorists who had to be assisted by the State Patrol.
Iowa has also been heavily impacted, with cars stuck for five hours on Interstate 80 due to semitrailers jackknifing in slippery conditions. State troopers have already responded to 86 crashes and 535 motorist-assist calls since Friday.
Governors across the country have issued warnings to residents, urging preparedness for the harsh weather conditions.
Parts of Montana and northern Kansas have already experienced temperatures below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 34 degrees Celsius), with the possibility of minus 50 F (minus 46 C) in the Dakotas. St. Louis, Missouri, has been issued a rare and life-threatening cold warning by the National Weather Service.
The cold snap is expected to continue well into next week and beyond. Wind chills below zero are projected to persist until Wednesday.
The inclement weather has also impacted political events, with prominent figures such as Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and former President Donald Trump canceling their campaign events.
Hundreds of thousands of households and businesses, mainly in Michigan, Oregon, and Wisconsin, are experiencing power outages.
In Yankton, South Dakota, the temperature dropped to minus 15 F (minus 26 C) in the evening, leading to the suspension of plow operations due to freezing and breaking equipment. Similarly, the Minnehaha County Highway Department halted plowing due to low visibility and extreme cold temperatures.
Meanwhile, record high tides hit the Northeast, causing flooding in some homes in Maine and New Hampshire.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a warning about the dangerous storm and postponed the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers NFL playoff game from Sunday to Monday. Residents of the county that includes Buffalo were instructed to stay off the roads, with the forecast calling for 1 to 2 feet or more of snow and winds gusting as high as 65 mph (105 kph).
Despite the adverse conditions, fans braved the elements to attend the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins playoff game in Kansas City, Missouri. With kickoff expected to be minus 2 F (minus 18 C) and wind chills making it feel like minus 24 F (minus 31 C), dedicated fans lined up with ski goggles and heated socks to witness the event.
The severe weather has also had a significant impact on vulnerable populations, such as the homeless. In Portland, Oregon, Robert Banks, who has been without a home for several years, stood outside his tent as sleet pelted him. Battling the bone-chilling cold, he expressed the need to secure his belongings before seeking shelter.
While the winter storms have wreaked havoc across the nation, there was one heartwarming moment in Lake Odessa, Michigan. Philip Spitzley woke up on his 95th birthday to find 95 small snowmen in his front yard, built by his family and neighbors. Spitzley was pleasantly surprised by the gesture, adding a touch of warmth to the freezing landscape.
As the nation weathers this extreme winter storm, it is essential for residents to stay safe and follow the instructions of local authorities. With temperatures expected to remain frigid, it is crucial to take precautions and look out for one another during this challenging time.
