BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Over 95 million people are facing extreme cold on Tuesday as a polar vortex brings record-breaking low temperatures, resulting in school closures, frozen pipes, and the need for additional shelters for the homeless.
Meteorologist Andrew Orrison from the National Weather Service describes the current conditions in the central United States as some of the coldest of the entire winter season. The freezing temperatures swept through the nation’s midsection following weekend storms that caused havoc in the Eastern U.S., claiming at least 17 lives. Wind chills in some Midwest areas have plummeted to as low as -50 to -60 degrees.
The dangerous cold has led to the closure of hundreds of public school districts and a shift to online learning in states like Oklahoma, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Missouri. In Kansas City, Kansas, numerous tents have been set up in buildings to provide shelter for the homeless.
Orrison predicts that the coldest temperatures on record are expected to arrive early Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, North Dakota is already experiencing temperatures reminiscent of the North Pole, with Bismarck hitting -39 degrees, breaking the previous record of -37 set in 1910.
Stephanie Hatzenbuhler and her family are facing various challenges due to the cold weather on their farm and ranch near Mandan, North Dakota. They are adapting to ensure their calving operation, vehicles, equipment, and coal-fired furnace can withstand the extreme conditions.
In northeast, east, and central Oklahoma, conditions are deteriorating rapidly due to freezing rain, ice, and snow. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has closed US Highway 75 between Tulsa and Okmulgee in both directions due to numerous vehicles and semi-trucks stuck on icy roads.
Upstate New York is bracing for a foot or more of lake-effect snow, leading to white-out conditions and travel advisories. Snowfall across the U.S. ranges from 3 feet to 6.5 feet in Wyoming’s Snowy Range to several inches from South Dakota to Missouri.
Kentucky is preparing for a winter storm that could bring over half a foot of snow to parts of the state starting Wednesday. Governor Andy Beshear warned that this snowstorm is occurring in the midst of ongoing natural disasters, with the weather-related death toll in Kentucky rising to 14.
In Virginia, officials are preparing for up to a foot of snow in certain areas.
Virginia was bracing for up to twelve inches of snow in the southern part of the state, just days after being hit hard by snow, freezing rain, and floods. In a press conference on Tuesday, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin urged residents not to travel if they were not at their desired destination by midnight. Youngkin announced the deployment of the National Guard across the state and the stockpiling of water and meals for those in need. Local governments also committed to keeping homeless shelters open.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency as the National Weather Service predicted that the approaching storm could bring up to nine inches of snow in the far northeastern counties. The more populated areas like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro could expect between one to three inches of snow, while mountain areas recovering from Hurricane Helene may receive one to two inches. Stein and state Emergency Management Director Will Ray cautioned residents about the potential for power outages and dangerous road conditions due to freezing rain and ice accumulation.
In Tennessee, Obion County Mayor Steve Carr reported no missing persons or deaths following a levee failure in Rives that caused flooding. In West Virginia, southern McDowell County suffered three storm-related fatalities, severe infrastructure damage, and widespread power outages.
In Detroit, a century-old water main burst caused flooding in southwest neighborhoods, prompting the rescue of over 90 individuals and the evacuation of nearly 400 homes from the emergency flood zone.
Various states are mobilizing resources and emergency response efforts to address the impact of the severe weather conditions.
Richmond, Virginia, Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee, Leah Willingham in Charleston, West Virginia, Juan Lozano in Houston, and Michael Hill in Albany, New York, all played a part in the creation of this report. Diaz is a dedicated member of The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. This program, Report for America, is a noteworthy nonprofit national service initiative that works to station journalists in local newsrooms with the aim of covering issues that often go unnoticed.
