The United States is bracing for a powerful winter storm that has already shattered historical temperature records and prompted emergency declarations across several states. In Bismarck, North Dakota, temperatures plummeted to a bone-chilling negative 35 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking a 150-year-old record. Meanwhile, Kentucky experienced as much as 8 inches of rain, followed by a heavy snowfall that blanketed the state. The Arctic air outbreak is set to sweep into Florida, adding to the challenges faced by millions across the nation. Governors in North Carolina and Arkansas have declared states of emergency as the storm intensifies, with significant snowfall reported in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The storm's unusual pattern has left many regions grappling with unprecedented weather conditions. In Nashville, Tennessee, police responded to multiple traffic incidents, with seven crashes reported east of the city in Lebanon, including three on State Route 109. In Rutherford County, authorities dealt with a challenging situation involving 12 vehicles stuck on a hill. Nashville police also reported 13 injury wrecks and 31 property damage incidents from early morning until mid-morning hours. Kentucky's response teams have been forced to switch focus from clearing roads and restoring power to preparing for the incoming storm, which threatens to bring even more snow.
In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear has urged residents to avoid traveling on snow-covered roads and advised those without power to seek shelter in warmer locations as temperatures linger below freezing.
"This is a snowstorm in the middle of a natural disaster," said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Tragically, the severe cold has claimed the lives of two individuals believed to be homeless this week due to hypothermia. The extreme weather continues to impact transportation, with over 225 flight cancellations reported at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina as of early afternoon.
As the cold front advances into Florida, meteorologists predict a mix of showers and thunderstorms, further complicating conditions.
"More importantly, Florida will join the millions of people experiencing this Arctic air outbreak," said weather service meteorologist Hayden Wilder.
The National Weather Service has issued warnings about the dangers posed by such low temperatures.
"The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 30 below zero could result in hypothermia and could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes," stated the weather service in Amarillo, Texas.
The combination of severe cold and snowstorm is particularly unusual for this time of year.
"This is not typical in February," explained National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Orrison.
In Kentucky, residents experienced an unusual sequence of events with a high-impact flood followed by a significant winter storm.
"We are experiencing a snowstorm on top of a flooding event," said Governor Beshear.
East of Nashville, law enforcement officers were kept busy responding to numerous traffic accidents, highlighting the danger posed by icy roads. In Rutherford County, twelve cars found themselves trapped on a hill with no room to turn around. This series of incidents underscores the importance of emergency preparedness and cautious driving during such extreme weather conditions.
Temperatures are expected to remain perilously low across many areas through Thursday morning, with widespread reports of single-digit figures.
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