At least 15 people were killed and more than 1.6 million U.S. homes and businesses were left without power on the morning of December 24 as the winter storm and Arctic hurricane hit the country. Devastating winds and heavy snows downed power lines and temperatures dropped to extremely low levels.
Freezing air continues to grip the United States this holiday weekend, and the relentless storm is hitting the Midwest and parts of the East with heavy snow, blizzards, and even flooding along the Northeast coast. There is no respite until the end of Christmas Day.
At least 15 people have died since Wednesday in four states as a result of this week’s dangerous and life-threatening conditions across much of the country.
Three people have died in weather-related car crashes in Kansas, CNN reported.
Two more died Friday night in Erie County, New York, in separate incidents as medical personnel were unable to reach their homes in time due to harsh winter conditions.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) said its Friday map “depicts one of the largest scales of winter advisories and warnings on record.”
Temperatures in Elk Park, Montana have dropped to -45 degrees Celsius and the city of Hell, Michigan is freezing cold. The temperature in the snowy municipality on Friday evening was -17 degrees Celsius.
In South Dakota, the Snow Indians even burned their clothes for warmth. The Arctic airmass is expected to bring strong gusts of wind and a temperature of -9.4 degrees Celsius to Texas, where newly arrived undocumented migrants sleep on the city streets.
