Dangerous sub-zero temperatures, biting winds, and snowstorms hang over swathes of the United States, disrupting the plans of millions of vacationers.
Meteorologists said cold weather began hitting the Pacific Northwest on the morning of the 20th, and was expected to hit the northern Rockies, then freeze the Great Plains and blanket the Midwest in snow. By the 23rd, an Arctic front is expected to spread bitter cold across South Florida.
Authorities across the country, concerned about possible power outages, are warning people to take precautions to protect the elderly, homeless and livestock, and to delay travel if possible, the Associated Press reported.
The northernmost parts of the US could experience wind chills approaching -57C, enough to cause chilblains on the skin in minutes.
Even the warmest states are preparing for the worst. Texas officials hope to avoid a repeat of last February’s storm, which left millions without power, some facing days without electricity. Freezing temperatures are expected through the weekend all the way to central Florida.
The temperature will drop sharply. In Denver (Denver), the temperature will be around 10 degrees Celsius on the 21st, and on the 22nd the temperature is expected to drop to minus 18 degrees Celsius in one breath.
Heavy snow is expected in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, with strong winds expected in the central US, according to the National Weather Service.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were all kinds of delays from high winds and heavy snow,” said Bob Oravec, the National Weather Service’s principal weather broadcaster in College Park, Maryland.
