NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The most recent winter storm is gearing up to strike the East Coast, threatening to bring heavy snow and ice to multiple states. After blanketing the Midwest with snow, the storm is now moving across the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, causing further distress to areas still recovering from deadly floods over the weekend. The National Weather Service warned of the potential for up to 10 inches of snow along the Atlantic Coast in Virginia and significant ice accumulation in eastern North Carolina.
Additionally, a polar vortex has descended from Montana to southern Texas, bringing extreme cold temperatures. Bismarck, North Dakota, recorded a bone-chilling minus 39 degrees early Tuesday, breaking a record set in 1910. The worst of the record cold temperatures is expected to hit on Thursday and Friday, according to meteorologist Andrew Orrison from the weather service.
Governor Josh Stein of North Carolina declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the impending ice and snow. He emphasized concerns about treacherous road conditions and potential power outages due to ice buildup. Similarly, Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia maintained a state of emergency that was initially issued for a previous storm on February 10, enabling the National Guard and state agencies to aid local governments. Both governors urged motorists to stay off the roads.
The arrival of the snowstorm is compounding the challenges faced by areas hit by floods over the weekend, which claimed at least 17 lives across the eastern U.S. The state of Kentucky, where over half a foot of snow was forecast, saw the most fatalities. Governor Andy Beshear described the situation as a snowstorm amidst a natural disaster. In southern West Virginia, floods caused by the weekend storms resulted in three fatalities, destruction of roads, and disruptions to public water systems. Thousands were left without power, with shelters set up in churches and schools to provide support.
Meanwhile, more than 80 million people in the central U.S. were grappling with severe cold temperatures. Numerous school districts in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri canceled classes or switched to online learning due to freezing conditions. Relief is expected as temperatures are forecasted to rise above freezing by the weekend.
Stephanie Hatzenbuhler, a resident of North Dakota, shared her family’s efforts to cope with the cold on their farm and ranch. She highlighted the challenges posed by the extreme weather, emphasizing the need for adaptation and resilience in the face of such conditions.
Slick roads led to minor injuries in a tractor-trailer accident carrying eggs on the Will Rogers Turnpike in northeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday.
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Reporting by Raby from Charleston, West Virginia. Contributions from Associated Press writers nationwide.
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