Snow and blizzards move into US east coast as 85 dead from last week’s storm | US weather
Dozens of people died in the southern United States due to a severe winter storm; Freezing temperatures, snow and blizzards will hit the east coast on Saturday.
At least 85 people died in many states based on Cold conditions and icy roads are causing car crashes, hypothermia and other fatal incidents, according to an Associated Press tally.
The severe cold front follows a severe snowstorm that blanketed much of the United States this past weekend; More snowfall and freezing temperatures will now hit the east coast. Both North Carolina and South Carolina declared states of emergency.
“As another winter season approaches North Carolina, this time likely bringing snow, I urge everyone to remain vigilant and take precautions,” said state governor Josh Stein.
At least 10 people were found dead in the cold in New York. There are also 13 confirmed deaths in Tennessee and nine deaths in Louisiana.
It’s a cold wave came from the arctic Authorities are preparing for more dangerous situations. Rising global temperatures may be counterintuitively weakening the polar vortex winds that keep cold air over the North Pole, causing the air to spread further south.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, whose official seal is sun, palm trees and seagulls, 15 cm (6 inches) of snow was expected. Mayor Mark Kruea said the city lacks snow removal equipment and officials plan to “use what they can find.”
Below-freezing weather was expected into February; Heavy snowfall was expected over the weekend in the Carolinas, Virginia and northeastern Georgia, with up to 12 inches in parts of North Carolina. It was said that it could snow from Maryland to Maine.
Forecasters said wind and snow could lead to blizzard conditions Saturday night and early Sunday before the storm moves out to sea. The frigid temperatures were expected to reach as far south as Florida.
In Nashville, Tennessee, temperatures approached the teens (-10C), increasing frustrations for those who spent a week without power.
Terry Miles, a 59-year-old construction worker who had no electricity at his home since Sunday’s storm, started using a fish fryer to stay warm and worried about the danger of carbon monoxide.
“I risk killing myself and killing my wife because – why?” Miles said after attending a press conference aimed at showcasing Nashville Electric Service (NES) company’s repairs on poles and lines. He then pointed it out to the authorities.
More than 190,000 homes and businesses were without power as of Saturday morning, mostly in Mississippi and Tennessee, according to the outage tracking website power outage.us. This included more than 54,000 people in and around Nashville.
Tennessee governor Bill Lee said he shared “strong concerns” with NES leadership, adding that residents “need a clear timeline for power restoration, transparency on the number of officers deployed, and a better understanding of when the work will be completed in their neighborhoods.”
The utility defended its response, saying last weekend’s storm was unprecedented.
Mississippi officials said the severe winter storm was the worst since 1994. Approximately 80 warming centers were opened and national guard troops distributed supplies by trucks and helicopters.
Experts warn of increased hypothermia risks. Dr., an emergency medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. David Nestler said frostbite is also a concern in the south, where some people lack adequately warm clothing.
Reported deaths occurred from Texas to New Jersey, with about half occurring in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. Some deaths have been attributed to hypothermia, while others are suspected to be related to carbon monoxide exposure. Authorities have not released detailed information about some deaths.
In North Carolina, hundreds of National Guard troops prepared to assist and state workers worked to prepare roads.
The city of Wake Forest witnessed a steady stream of people filling propane tanks at Holding Oil and Gas on Friday; among them was José Rosa, who attacked three other places.
“I’m here in this cold weather and I don’t like it,” Rosa said while holding a 20 lb (9 kg) tank.
In Dare County, home to much of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, residents worried that vacant homes in communities like Rodanthe and Buxton could collapse into the Atlantic Ocean.
Associated Press contributed reporting
