A winter storm with extreme cold temperatures and wind chills have impacted different areas of the United States since early week, causing human fatalities, widespread damage, and chaotic travel disruptions nationwide. The dangerous cold weather killed several people in the Midwest region and reduced visibility caused by heavy snow led to the grounding of more than 2,000 flights.
Weather authorities attribute the US winter storm and intense cold with an Arctic blast from the north. On Tuesday, January 16, meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS) stated that dangerous wind chills and record-breaking cold temperatures persist in the center of the country. Affected areas are expected to experience continued travel disruption and life-threatening weather hazards.
Cold Weather Kills Several People
At least five people have been reported killed across the Midwest, where cold weather barreled through with sub-zero air temperatures and even colder wind chills. The victims died from different causes but are still all related with the raging winter storm in the country this week.
Among the fatalities, two people died in Portland, Oregon, area after high winds knocked down trees. One of the victims died in Southeast Portland when falling tree struck a parked RV on Saturday, January 14, according to local sources. Meanwhile, the second victim died after a tree fell on his home and hit the second floor.
The deaths of two other people were reported in Northeast Portland and North Portland where local authorities believe that they have died potentially due to hypothermia caused by cold temperatures from the winter storm-driven cold weather.
Elsewhere, a skier in Idaho died last Friday, January 12, after being swallowed by a raging avalanche. Two other skiers were also caught in the land slip but were later rescued.
US Flight Cancellations
At least 2,228 flights have been grounded at airports across the US based on initial reports. However, data from the flight-monitoring website FlightAware shows that a total of 2,780 US flight cancellations and a total of 4,754 US flight delays have been recorded as of Tuesday (local time). The flight data provided can change real-time in the coming hours.
Some of the following airports in the US affected by the cancellations and delays are the following:
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
US Winter Storm Forecast
Based on the latest US winter storm forecast, the NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) reported that the Arctic air remains in most parts of the country as of Tuesday. Aside from the winter storm-driven fatalities and travel chaos, snowfall accumulation will occur across the eastern Great Lakes and Northeast corridors throughout the day, according to the weather service.
Furthermore, the US weather agency also warned of lake effect snow downwind across the Great Lakes through the mid-week. In addition, isolated severe thunderstorms are possible for central Florida. These severe storms can produce strong winds or deadly tornadoes, as recorded in previous weather events.
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