Winter storms leave 89 dead across US as chill settles over Great Lakes and Northeast
A downed power line killed three in Oregon as northeast braces for more snow
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Your support makes all the difference.At least 89 people have been killed across the country over the past two weeks as severe weather plagues the United States, according to an updated count by CBS News.
The most winter weather-related deaths have occurred in Tennessee after a truck spun out of control due to snowy conditions, causing it to slam into a tractor-trailer.
The governor of Oregon declared a state of emergency as its state is being pelted with freezing rain and winter storms that have led to fallen trees, massive power outages and at least 16 deaths.
Two adults and one teenager died after a power line fell onto a car in northeast Portland on Wednesday morning following a severe storm in Oregon. Officials also found an uninjured two-year-old on the scene whom they took to the hospital.
Now, several inches of lake-effect snow is hitting the Great Lakes region and northeast US, while arctic temperatures settle over the southeast US.
In Florida, meteorologists say low temperatures could impact wildlife, leading to a rare weather-related phenomenon: falling iguanas.
The severe winter storms have also unleashed travel chaos across the country, leading to thousands of flight cancellations and delays across the country.
Travel chaos seems to be on the mend as of Saturday evening
After several days with thousands of cancelled flights and delays, Saturday appears to have brought some peace to air travellers.
Just over 3,000 flights into, out of or within the US have been delayed as of Saturday evening, with nearly 400 cancelled, according to FlightAware. While that may seem like a lot at first, in just the last three days more than 20,000 flights were delayed while 3,000 flights were cancelled.
While these things are unpredictable and flight troubles may worsen tomorrow as the Great Lakes region continues to get hit with lake-effect snow and northern Texas sees freezing rain, the worst of this month’s travel woes may be behind us.
ICYMI: At least 83 dead due to winter weather across the US over last week
83 people have died due to extreme winter weather across the US in the last week, according to a count from CBS News.
Nineteen of those deaths were in Tennessee, while another sixteen people were killed in Oregon. That total includes three people who died trying to exit their parked car after a downed power line crashed into it.
The death toll may rise again this weekend as devastating arctic temperatures blow through the northeast and lake-effect snow buries the Great Lakes region.
Where is all this arctic air coming from?
The freezing temperatures hitting the northeast this weekend are thanks to an arctic air mass from northern Canada, according to officials with the National Weather Service (NWS).
“This frigid airmass was over Northern Canada (in the Arctic) more than a week ago,” officials with the NWS for New York posted on X.
The good news? Things will start to thaw next week as another system brings warmer air to the region.
ICYMI: Private plane emergency lands on snowy Virginia highway
Officials say that just before 1:00 pm, Virginia State Police were notified that a private airplane had landed in the DIREX lanes of Loudoun County Parkway.
The aircraft, a Southern Airways Express flight, had departed Dulles International Airport at 12:15 with seven people on board. It is currently unknown if anyone was hurt from the landing.
The cause for the emergency landing has not yet been determined.
Natalie Chinn has more:
Private plane emergency lands on snowy Virginia highway
A private plane made an emergency landing on a snowy highway in Virginia on Friday 19 January. Officials say that just before 1:00 pm, Virginia State Police were notified that a private airplane had landed in the DIREX lanes of Loudoun County Parkway. The aircraft, a Southern Airways Express flight, had departed Dulles International Airport at 12:15 with seven people on board. It is currently unknown if anyone was hurt from the landing. The cause for the emergency landing has not yet been determined.
ICYMI: Volunteers shovel NFL stadium ahead of playoff game
The Buffalo Bills have once again put out a call for volunteers to help shovel snow inside the stadium ahead of their NFL playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Thursday the team asked fans, known as the Bills Mafia, to help get the home field in Orchard Park, New York, game-ready.
Volunteers will be paid $20 per hour for their work, which is scheduled to take place throughout Friday afternoon and evening before the game on Sunday.
It comes as the National Weather Service predicted that Orchard Park – where the Highmark Stadium is located – could see up to eight inches of snow between Thursday night and Saturday.
Learn more from Mike Bedigan:
Buffalo Bills call again for snow-shoveling volunteers ahead of playoff game
On Thursday the team asked fans, known as the Bills Mafia, to help get the home field in Orchard Park, New York, game-ready.
Lighthouses freeze into ice sculptures in Michigan
SEE IT: Frozen ramen noodles defy gravity in frigid Alberta
SEE IT: Wind skier glides across snow-covered Cleveland beach as waves buffet shore
Is it too cold to walk your dog?
With arctic temperatures blowing across the US this weekend — and freezing rain hitting North Texas this evening — dog owners might be wondering how to safely get their furry friends outside.
If you’re wondering how to keep your pets safe amid these chilling temperatures, read this guide from Brittany Miller on how to check if it’s too cold to walk your dog:
Is it too cold to walk your dog? How to check
How to check if it’s too cold outside to walk your dog amid winter storms
North Texas bracing for freezing rain tonight into Monday
Residents of northern Texas can expect freezing rain Sunday night into Monday, officials with the National Weather Service (NWS) for Fort Worth said on X.
“Ice accumulations may impact the morning commute in some areas as bridges and overpasses become slick,” the post reads. “Temperatures will climb back above freezing after daybreak.”
Meanwhile, much of the southeast US is under a hard freeze warning from the NWS today, creating potentially dangerous driving conditions throughout the region.
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