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.
A week of cancelled flights
While thousands of flights are still getting delayed or cancelled, the conditions have slighlty improved since earlier this week.
Tuesday saw a whopping 10,000 flights delayed in the US and 2,500 cancellations. Another 6,000 were delayed both on Wednesday and Thursday.
But as of Friday morning, conditions seem to be on the upswing — ever so slightly. So far, 2,200 US flights have been delayed and 800 have been cancelled.
Cold weather and the risk of falling iguanas
Matt Devitt, the chief meteorologist for WINK News in Florida, shared a graphic on Thursday warning residents “from Sanibel to Cape Coral to Naples” to keep an eye open for raining reptiles.
The temperature in the state’s southwest is expected to drop into the 40’s — 30’s with windchill — over the weekend. The cold snap is part of a broader system that brought snow and ice to huge swaths of the US this week.
Iguanas typically prefer hot climates, ideally no lower than 75 degrees Fahrenheit. But every so often temperatures drop enough — 45F or lower — to essentially force the cold-blooded lizards into a flash hibernation until warmer air returns.
This can cause tree-dwelling Iguanas to fall from branches and onto the ground. Residents in Florida are regularly warned to leave the stiff iguanas alone. Even though the reptiles aren’t moving, they’re still alive, and can recover once the climate suits their scales.
Read the full story...
Warning of falling iguanas as temperatures plummet amid winter storms
They’re not dead, they’re just chilling — literally
A hero emerges
After a tragedy took place in ice-covered Oregon on Wednesday — three people were shocked to death after falling onto a downed power line. The Associated Press reported that a man died after tripping on a slick driveway forcing him to touch the live wire. He had been trying to bring his baby to safety. The baby’s mother, followed by her younger brother, also attempted to help, but they too were tragically met with the same fate
The outlet reported that 18-year-old Majiah Washington noticed the baby, lying on his father, moving his head. He had somehow survived.
Ms Washington said on Thursday that she “was concerned about the baby...Nobody was with the baby.” She had grabbed the child off of the father. Miraculously, neither she nor the baby were electrocuted, a fact that still mystifies the Portland Fire and Rescue team.
The baby was examined at the hospital determined to be fine.
No power
Over 100,000 customers still have no electricity as of Friday morning in Oregon, which has been ravaged by storms, according to the AP.
The state’s governor declared a state of emergency on Thursday night, asking for federal resources to address “power outages, lack of transportation, and an array of safety concerns.”
Portland state offices were ordered to close on Friday, while schools in the city remained closed on Friday for the fourth day in a row.
West Virginia’s winter storm causes legislative delays
The West Virginia Legislature ended early on Friday because not enough lawmakers could make it to the state Capitol, due to the snow, according to the AP.
Snow is supposed to continue through Friday into Saturday. Following the snow showers, West Virginians can expect “frigid weather,” the National Weather Service predicted.
Sub-zero temperatures causes Chicago mayor to postpone migrant shelter evictions
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cited the bitter temperatures when announcing that migrants living in the city’s shelters would not have to leave before 1 February, an extension of the 60-day period that migrants are allowed to stay in shelters, according to reports.
“To be clear, we’re not evicting new arrivals out into the cold,” Mayor Johnson said last week after he announced an initial extension until 22 January, WTTW reported.
That decision impacts at least 650 migrants, the outlet wrote.
After the initial extension, Illinois Gov JB Pritzker wrote a letter condemning Gov Greg Abbott, who has been ordering migrants to be bused to Chicago. “The next few days are a threat to the families and children you are sending here” due to the extreme cold, he wrote.
“We refuse to play your political game of exploiting the most vulnerable for the sake of culture wars and talking points,” Mr Pritzker added. “You seem to have no interest in working on bipartisan solutions to the border crisis because that would put an end to your cruel political game, but I am writing to you today hoping to appeal to your humanity.”
Buffalo Bills request snow shovelers for second time in a week
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.
Temperatures on Sunday will hover between 17 and 24 degrees Fahrenheit, the weather service said.
Read the full story...
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.
Plane makes emergency landing due to inclement weather
A small plane landed two minutes after it took off from Dulles International Airport, according to FlightAware.
The website shows that the aircraft is a Southern Airways Express Cessna Caravan that was supposed to fly to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
WUSA9 reported that the plane landed on Loudoun County Parkway near Arcola Mills Road.
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