Brutally cold weather is set to pose a deadly challenge on Saturday as it continues to grip much of the United States. Governors from New York to Louisiana have declared states of emergency in anticipation of the bone-chilling temperatures and hazardous weather conditions.
In St. Louis, the National Weather Service issued a rare and "life-threatening" cold warning, urging residents to take extreme precautions. The severity of the weather has disrupted campaign schedules in Iowa, affecting prominent figures like Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and former President Donald Trump ahead of Monday's presidential vote.
Kansas City is set to witness near-record cold during the NFL playoff game on Saturday night, prompting organizers to allow fans to bring blankets, and first-aid stations have been set up at Arrowhead Stadium. Buffalo, hosting a game on Sunday, faces up to a foot of snow and fierce winds.
The National Weather Service has issued a warning for a powerful storm to hit the Midwest to the Great Lakes, bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and blizzards. The Rockies and the Plains are expected to experience dangerously frigid weather, while the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic brace for heavy rain, raising concerns about river and coastal flooding.
Flooding concerns have already emerged in parts of the Northeast, with emergency responders evacuating residents in Paterson, New Jersey, as the Passaic River overflows. Maine and New Hampshire also face flooding worries due to a combination of storms earlier in the week and the current weather conditions.
The frigid temperatures were felt in Bismarck, North Dakota, with a chilling minus 11 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday morning. Forecasters warn that temperatures could plummet to 20 below Fahrenheit by early Sunday.
In Kansas City, Missouri, black ice resulting from freezing rain caused wrecks and brought the city to a standstill. Similar challenges are being faced in unexpected regions like Portland, Oregon, where a weather emergency has been declared, and severe weather shelters for the homeless have been opened.
A high avalanche danger warning has been issued for parts of the Sierra Nevada in California and Idaho. Tragically, an avalanche at a ski resort in Lake Tahoe claimed a life on Wednesday, and another man in Idaho is presumed dead following an avalanche on Thursday.
The National Weather Service highlighted the widespread impact, noting, "EVERY state in the US has an active NWS watch, warning, or advisory," as storms, winds, floods, blizzards, and avalanches threaten various parts of the country.
Chicago anticipates several inches of snow, with wind gusts up to 50 mph and wind chills as low as minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, prompting warnings of frostbite within just 15 minutes of exposure. Sadly, a suburban Chicago man has already succumbed to exposure, marking the first cold-related death of the season.
Advocates express concern for migrants sent to Chicago from the U.S.-Mexico border, with over 26,000 arrivals since last year. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to pause the transport of migrants during the perilous weather, a request Abbott rejected, citing the need for border security.
Even the South is not immune to winter's wrath, as severe storms with winds reaching 70 mph swept across Mississippi on Friday. Governors in Arkansas and Louisiana have declared states of emergency in preparation for stormy and frigid weather, with subfreezing temperatures expected in New Orleans by next week. Texas Governor Abbott warned Texans to brace for ice on Monday.
