Subfreezing temperatures gripped much of the U.S., posing potential dangers on Sunday, as Arctic storms threatened near-blizzard conditions in the Northeast and significant snowfall in parts of the South.
The National Weather Service issued warnings of windy, subfreezing conditions in Montana and the Dakotas, with wind chills potentially reaching as low as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56 Celsius). Approximately 95 million people were under advisories for wind chills below zero F (minus 17 Celsius), with the severe cold anticipated to extend as far south as northern Texas.
In downtown Des Moines, Iowa, Juan Villegas and subcontractors braved temperatures of minus 15 degrees F (minus 26 degrees C) while clearing snow. Villegas emphasized the importance of staying active to combat the cold, stating, “If you stay doing nothing, it’s when you really feel the cold.”
Even southern regions like northern Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia faced the possibility of snowfall. In Shreveport, Louisiana, residents like Mary Trammel prepared for subfreezing weather expected to bring snow and icy roads.
Buffalo, New York, experienced heavy snowfall with forecasts of 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters), leading to the postponement of the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers NFL playoff game from Sunday to Monday. The storm prompted advisories to stay off the roads in Buffalo.
The impact extended to airports nationwide, with numerous flight cancellations at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Another Arctic storm, causing heavy snowfall in the Rockies, was forecast to move south, potentially bringing 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of snow to parts of Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and west Tennessee. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency in preparation.
Jackson, Mississippi, was gearing up for freezing weather, recalling issues from 2021 and 2022, where cold snaps led to burst pipes and water pressure drops. Record high tides caused flooding in Maine and New Hampshire, leading to the loss of historic fishing shacks that stood for over 130 years.
Widespread power outages affected over 150,000 homes and businesses in Oregon, with additional outages reported in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The severe weather contributed to three deaths in Oregon, with earlier weather-related deaths reported in California, Idaho, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
