173 Million Under Extreme Cold Warnings As Deadly Winter Storm Batters Eastern U.S.

Extreme cold warnings were in effect Tuesday morning for roughly 173 million people from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast, as much of the eastern third of the United States continued to deal with the aftermath of a massive winter storm that has killed at least 51 people.

Meteorologists said the outbreak could bring some of the coldest temperatures seen in several years and potentially mark the longest cold spell in decades. Subfreezing temperatures have already been recorded in New York City, while Washington, D.C., saw readings dip below 10 degrees.

The number of storm-related fatalities continued to climb on Tuesday. Tennessee’s Department of Health reported five weather-related deaths and cautioned residents that freezing rain, ice, and frigid wind gusts were still expected. In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said a 72-year-old woman died from hypothermia.

The National Weather Service said temperatures are expected to stay far below seasonal norms through the rest of the week and into next week, warning that “life-threatening” wind chills could drive temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit Monday night in parts of the upper Ohio Valley. Nearly 80% of the U.S. population is forecast to experience below-freezing conditions over the coming week.

Forecasters warned that record low temperatures could be set Tuesday morning and persist through next Monday morning, stretching from the southern Plains to the Northeast. By Sunday morning, temperatures in the mid-30s are expected as far south as Miami.

The prolonged cold poses severe risks
The deep freeze shows little sign of easing, with another surge of arctic air approaching and an “increasing potential of another significant winter storm” for Eastern states this weekend, according to the weather service.

Chicago is expected to see lows around 0 degrees on Wednesday, while Dallas could fall to about 17 degrees.

“Low temperatures in the single digits to below zero pose a life-threatening risk of hypothermia and frostbite even without wind,” the weather service warned in a Monday update.

Officials said the cold snap is likely to last until at least the middle of next week before temperatures gradually return to more typical seasonal levels.

Heavy snow has blanketed a vast swath of the country from Arkansas to New England, with many areas reporting at least a foot of accumulation. Pittsburgh recorded more than 20 inches of snow, along with temperatures plunging to minus 25 degrees.

Lake-effect snow is also expected to persist through the week, with 8 to 16 inches forecast for New York’s Tug Hill Plateau.

Widespread outages and travel disruptions
As of Tuesday morning, more than 500,000 customers nationwide remained without electricity, according to PowerOutage.com. Tennessee accounted for about 179,000 outages, while nearly 140,000 customers were without power in Mississippi, raising concerns for residents unable to heat their homes.

Air travel continued to be disrupted despite some airports reopening. FlightAware reported more than 1,650 canceled flights and over 2,260 delays nationwide on Tuesday morning.

In New York City, officials declared an “enhanced code blue” in response to the extreme cold. The city’s Emergency Management Department said more than 50 hospitals and shelters would be opened to provide warmth for those in need. Roughly half a million students logged in for remote learning on Monday as schools remained closed.

In Dallas, city officials said about 1,150 unhoused residents were staying in emergency shelters, along with 10 households and 14 pets.

Emergency responders across several states have been stretched thin by the severe conditions. New Hampshire state troopers said they had responded to 126 crashes since the storm began.

Pittsburgh experienced snowfall rates of nearly an inch per hour on Monday, marking its second-largest 24-hour snowfall in three decades. Mayor Corey O’Connor declared a state of emergency, noting that 37 snowplows broke down due to the extreme cold.

Damage, rescues, and warnings continue
In Louisiana, a state trooper captured video of a tree crashing onto a roadway in Natchitoches Parish, highlighting how ice and cold have weighed down trees and power lines, causing extensive damage.

In northeast Mississippi, resident Adrian Ronca-Hohn told The Associated Press that around 40 trees fell on his property, leaving his family trapped. “I mean, it looks like a war zone out here,” he said. “We couldn’t go 10 seconds without hearing what sounded like a gunshot.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said 500 National Guard troops would be deployed by Wednesday to assist with debris removal and traffic control. “We will get through this,” he said. “We’re not going to get through it today and we’re not going to get through it tomorrow.”

In Monroe, Louisiana, city officials issued a precautionary boil-water advisory, instructing residents to boil water for one minute before drinking it after the system was found to have “questionable microbiological quality” due to “temporary operational challenges” caused by the severe weather.