Severe Cold, Floods, and Strong Winds Cause Widespread Damage
The death toll from powerful winter storms sweeping across the central and eastern United States has risen to at least 14, officials confirmed on Monday. The storms brought heavy floods, strong winds, and record-breaking cold temperatures, causing significant disruptions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a warning about an Arctic air mass bringing “record cold” to several states. Wind chills are expected to drop as low as -51°C in Montana and North Dakota.
Kentucky Hit Hardest
Kentucky has reported the highest number of fatalities, with Governor Andy Beshear confirming that the death toll has risen to 12. Many of the victims drowned in their vehicles as rapidly rising floodwaters trapped them. A mother and her child were among those who lost their lives.
Governor Beshear urged residents to stay off the roads as local and federal authorities declared a state of emergency. Emergency responders have rescued over 1,000 people in the past 24 hours.
Other States Affected
- West Virginia: Governor Patrick Morrisey reported one fatality and warned of further flooding, with several people still missing.
- Georgia: In Atlanta, one person died when a large tree fell on their home, according to fire officials.
Extreme Cold and Power Outages
The NWS stated that the bitter cold will spread across the central plains, eastern seaboard, and Gulf coast in the coming days.
Power restoration efforts are underway, but more than 50,000 customers remain without electricity in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, as reported by monitoring websites.
Authorities continue rescue and relief operations as they brace for more extreme weather in the affected regions.
