Freezing US weather leaves over 85,000 homes and businesses without power

On Tuesday, a severe winter storm swept across the Rockies, Great Plains, and Midwest, bringing sub-zero wind chills as low as –30°F (–34.4°C) in central US regions. Over 85,000 homes and businesses faced power outages, primarily in Oregon, where freezing rain threatened to hinder restoration efforts. Hazardously icy roads prompted transportation officials to advise against travel, anticipating potential dangers like fallen trees and power lines due to accumulated ice.

Major cities, including Portland, Chicago, Denver, and Dallas, cancelled classes on Tuesday. The impact extended beyond daily life, affecting air travel, NFL playoff games, and even Iowa's presidential caucuses. Tragically, several deaths were reported, with four in the Portland area, including two from suspected hypothermia, one from a fallen tree, and another in a fire caused by a tree collapsing onto an RV. In Wisconsin, three homeless individuals in the Milwaukee area were found dead, likely due to hypothermia.

The storm brought freezing rain and sleet to southeast areas, triggering winter storm warnings in multiple states. Monday night recorded temperatures as low as 10°F (–12.2°C) in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and Jackson, Tennessee. Despite the extreme cold, fans braved the weather to support the Buffalo Bills in a snow-covered stadium in Orchard Park, New York, where the NFL playoff game was delayed by a storm that dumped over 2 feet (61 cm) of snow.

The frigid conditions persisted in the Northeast, where voters in Iowa's caucuses faced record-breaking cold with temperatures dropping to –3°F (–19.4°C) in Des Moines. Former President Donald Trump secured a win in the caucuses despite the extreme weather.

Air travel experienced widespread disruptions, with FlightAware.com reporting approximately 2,900 cancellations on Monday within, into, or out of the US. While moderate temperatures are expected midweek, a new surge of colder air is forecasted to sweep southward over the Northern Plains and Midwest, reaching the Deep South by the week's end, affecting cities like Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

अमेरिका की ठंडक: 85,000+ घर, व्यापार बिना बिजली, अत्यंत मौसम।