Monster winter storm threatens half of US with 12 states already declaring emergencies | US weather
The dangerous monster storm threatening half of the United States was looming on Friday, with 12 states declaring emergencies and power outages and power outages to areas typically unused due to prolonged Arctic temperatures.
At least 230 million people are expected to be affected by the massive winter weather system, which formed in parts of the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains and spread across the southern and midwestern regions starting Friday, spreading across the east coast on Saturday and as far north as Maine on Sunday.
State governors declared emergencies in advance, warning of mortal danger but also freeing up financial reserves to cope with these conditions. On Friday, a state of emergency was declared in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina in the south of the USA. Emergency declarations were also made in Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump posted on the social media platform on Friday morning: “Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 states. Something like this has rarely been seen before. Can Environmental Rebels please explain – WHAT HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING?”
In fact, the climate crisis is causing greater instability in weather systems and patterns, disrupting the polar vortex and bringing more extreme temperatures, including a more frequent and persistent spread of Arctic temperatures in parts of the United States unaccustomed to prolonged periods of deep cold.
Even the American Red Cross in question on the website: “Winters are getting warmer and shorter due to the climate crisis. But since a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, heavier snowfalls are more likely to occur.”
As queues form at stores in many states, residents are hastily stocking up on supplies ranging from bottled water and power generators to food, toilet paper and blankets. American Red Cross warned While the public is preparing, many local media outlets are also sent images of empty retail shelves on social media.
Snow, sleet and dangerously freezing rain are expected to leave thick layers of ice in many areas, making roads deadly and downing power lines, complicating cleanup efforts, meteorologists say. Authorities in the southern regions are warning residents to be prepared for prolonged power outages.
Temperatures will drop well below freezing in southern states, where such frigid conditions are not typical, and in northern states, which are more accustomed to dealing with severe winter storms.
“Snowfall totals are likely to exceed 12 inches across the Ohio valley, mid-Atlantic and northeast,” the National Weather Service said.
More than 100 million people across the U.S. can expect to endure below-freezing temperatures at least through next Wednesday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) abruptly stopped laying off people; staff were told that the agency would “cease to lay off” employees who helped in times of disaster and whose contracts were due to expire. CNN reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources.
Fema is reportedly drafting plans to lay off thousands of staff this year, and the agency has come under repeated attack from the White House during the second Trump administration.
In response to CNN’s report on Friday morning, Fema sent the following statement to the Guardian: “This is a mischaracterization of how Fema’s CORE program works. The CORE program consists of term-limited positions designed to FLUCTURE depending on disaster activity, operational NEED and available funding. Fema’s National Response Coordination Center was activated in response to a historic winter storm, in line with this mission Fema follows standard protocol to ensure mission functions are carried out. We are calling on the media.” “To let Americans know how they can stay safe this weekend and not create manufactured drama during an impending winter storm.”
Airlines are already canceling hundreds of flights and transportation across all modes is expected to be severely impacted by the storm.
