Harshly cold weather poses a potentially lethal threat on Saturday as a relentless series of Arctic storms continues to batter the United States with blinding snow, freezing rain, and fierce winds. Governors from New York to Louisiana have declared states of emergency in anticipation of predicted snowfall and bone-chilling temperatures. The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis has issued warnings of rare and “life-threatening” cold, with sub-zero low temperature records expected to be broken over the weekend in the northern and central Plains due to heavy snow, strong winds, and blizzards.
The NWS statement on Saturday cautioned that, including wind chill, temperatures could plummet below minus 30 over a vast region spanning from the northern Rockies to northern Kansas, with the potential for minus 50 temperatures in the Dakotas. Power outages have affected around 185,000 customers in Michigan and 91,000 customers in Wisconsin, while outages have been reported from Virginia to New Hampshire, according to poweroutage.us.
The severe weather has disrupted campaign schedules in Iowa, affecting the leadoff GOP caucus state, prompting Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and former President Donald Trump to adjust their plans ahead of Monday’s presidential vote. Kansas City is bracing for near-record cold during the NFL playoff game on Saturday night, with fans permitted to bring blankets, and first-aid stations set up at Arrowhead Stadium. Meanwhile, Buffalo is expected to contend with up to a foot of snow and strong winds as the Bills host Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Flooding concerns have arisen in some areas of the Northeast, leading to evacuations in Paterson, New Jersey, as the Passaic River overflows. Black ice resulting from freezing rain caused wrecks and brought Kansas City, Missouri, to a standstill. In Portland, Oregon, officials declared a weather emergency and opened severe weather shelters for the homeless, distributing thousands of jackets, gloves, and other items. California and Idaho are under warnings of high avalanche danger in the Sierra Nevada and other regions.
The NWS highlighted the widespread threats across the country, with every state having an active watch, warning, or advisory. Chicago is anticipating several inches of snow with wind gusts up to 50 mph and wind chills as low as minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, posing a risk of frostbite within 15 minutes of exposed skin. A suburban Chicago man has succumbed to exposure, marking the first cold-related death of the season.
Concerns are raised for migrants sent to Chicago from the U.S.-Mexico border, with advocates urging a pause in transports during the perilous weather. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s letter to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott seeks a halt to these transports to save lives. Abbott, however, refuses to stop the “voluntary” trips until President Biden takes action to secure the border, advising Texans to prepare for icy conditions on Monday.
