A severe cold snap is hitting the United States this week, putting millions at risk and disrupting daily life.
Bitter Arctic air is clashing with a storm moving from the Rockies. This combination is causing dangerous winter weather across the Central U.S. and the Ohio Valley. Meanwhile, communities in Kentucky, West Virginia, and the mid-Atlantic, still recovering from recent flooding, face new challenges.
In the wake of the flooding, at least 14 people have lost their lives, with 12 in Kentucky alone. Heavy rain over the weekend caused extensive damage, leaving many in desperate need of assistance.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reported two additional deaths from hypothermia in Jefferson County. At a press conference, he warned that the cold could be just as harmful as the flooding.
The icy air will deepen and spread throughout the week, with around 75% of the population expected to experience sub-zero temperatures by Friday. Some areas may see temperatures plummet to nearly 50 degrees below average for February, potentially breaking temperature records in 27 states.
This month has been marked by severe winter storms, and the pattern is not slowing down. A new storm is forecast to bring 3 to 6 inches of snow to areas struggling with flooding in Kentucky, while parts of West Virginia might see even more snow.
Governor Beshear stated that city and county workers are stretched thin, managing flood debris and new snow at the same time. He emphasized that the flooding is one of the most significant natural disasters in memory, and although the rain has stopped, the threat remains as rivers overflow.
Rescue efforts have been intense, with over 1,000 rescues conducted by the Kentucky National Guard and local police since the flooding started. In Martin County, helicopters and boats evacuated at least 237 residents from affected apartment complexes.
The situation is similarly concerning in West Virginia, where several people are still unaccounted for due to the severe flooding.
The coldest air of the winter is making its way into the northern U.S. Wind chill temperatures have plummeted to dangerously low levels, nearly reaching 60 degrees below zero in parts of Montana and North Dakota. This week marks the coldest in over 16 years for Bismarck, North Dakota, with frigid temperatures extending to as far south as Oklahoma and Texas.
More than 75 million people across the Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast are under cold weather alerts. Snow began falling across the central U.S. as the storm strengthened, potentially burying areas from Kansas to Oklahoma in heavy snow and creating hazardous icy conditions to the south.
Parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas may get over a foot of snow by the end of the week, with Springfield, Missouri, possibly experiencing its heaviest snowfall in 20 years. Arkansas has already declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the storm.
Cities like Memphis, Nashville, and Atlanta are preparing for a drastic drop in temperatures, with Atlanta expected to see highs only in the mid-30s, which is around 20 degrees below normal for this time of year.
The risks are compounded by wind chill, which could range from 30 to 60 degrees below zero in northern regions, risking frostbite in mere minutes. As gusty winds push the cold further south, parts of Texas and Arkansas could also face dangerously low wind chill by midweek.
