Arctic storm paralyzes U.S. with record lows and heavy snow; recovery hampered as freezing temperatures forecast to persist for days.
A deadly Arctic storm continues to grip the United States, claiming at least 30 lives and leaving more than 540,000 customers without power Tuesday morning. The massive weather system has brought record low temperatures, heavy snow, and ice from the South to New England, disrupting travel and overwhelming infrastructure.
Forecasters warn the crisis is far from over. The National Weather Service stated that much of the northern half of the country will experience temperatures “continuously below freezing through February 1,” complicating recovery efforts and raising risks for vulnerable populations.
The storm’s toll has mounted across multiple states. Causes of death include hypothermia, traffic accidents, and incidents involving snow removal. In a tragic separate event, seven people died when a small plane crashed during takeoff in a snowstorm in Bangor, Maine.
While southern states like Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana saw power gradually restored, outages remained widespread. Icy conditions caused trees to fall, sometimes knocking out recently repaired lines.
“The character of this snow is very dry and fluffy, meaning the wind can lash it around with ease. That makes it even more challenging,” said Dave Radell, an NWS meteorologist in New York. Parts of Connecticut received over 22 inches of snow, with Boston recording more than 16 inches.
Transportation networks remain paralyzed, with over 9,000 flights disrupted since the weekend. Travelers like Alan Vazquez at Dallas–Fort Worth airport expressed uncertainty, stranded since Sunday.
The storm, linked to a stretched polar vortex, has highlighted regional vulnerabilities. NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli noted recovery is particularly arduous because so many states were impacted simultaneously, preventing better-prepared northern regions from sharing resources with overwhelmed southern ones.
“Many of those locations don’t have the means or the resources to clean up after these events,” Santorelli said. “We’re particularly concerned about the folks in those areas without power.”
Cities across the nation have opened emergency warming shelters as the deep freeze persists.
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