This weekend, brutally cold weather is expected to hit the storm-plagued south and northeast of the United States.
MEMPHIS / USA —
Authorities urged Memphis residents to boil water before consumption while warning New Yorkers about possible patches of black ice on the streets over the weekend Extreme cold and bad weather continued in parts of the United States.
Cold air from Canada hit the north-central part of the country on Friday, and warnings were active in several states after forecasters warned of a wind chill of -34 degrees Celsius (-30 degrees Fahrenheit) through Sunday morning.
New York City, Baltimore and Washington, DC all recorded heavier snowfall than expected on Friday. Over the past two weeks, storms have hit the Northwest, north-central, Great Plains, and the South and Northwest, bringing low temperatures, heavy snow, ice storms, freezing rain and strong winds.
With this wind chill, temperatures of -26°C (-15°F) are expected across much of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Kansas, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
The weekend cold snap follows a series of storms They caused at least 55 deaths across the country. Many of these are due to hypothermia or traffic accidents.
There have been 19 deaths in Tennessee alone, including that of a 25-year-old man who was found on the floor of a mobile home in Lewisburg after a heater tipped over and went out, said Bob Johnson, deputy sheriff in Tennessee County Marshall.
“There was ice on the walls,” Johnson said.
Also read: The east and west coasts of the USA are preparing for a new wave of snow and ice
The frigid temperatures caused so many pipes to burst in Memphis, Tennessee, causing water pressure to drop throughout the city. Memphis Light, Gas & Water on Friday urged its more than 400,000 residents to boil water or use bottled water to drink or brush their teeth.
It was unclear how long this notice would be active. Although about 50 breaches have been repaired, the service company's president, Doug McGowen, warned that new leaks are emerging.
The sharp decline in blood donations, attributed in part to bad weather, prompted Blood Assurance to recommend that more than 70 hospitals in five states suspend non-essential surgeries until Wednesday so the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based organization can replenish its inventory.
In West Virginia, severe weather watches and warnings remained in effect Saturday. The weather agency noted that more than 10 centimeters (4 inches) more snow could fall in some regions, with wind gusts of up to 64 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour) and a wind chill of -29 °C (-20 °F).
It was snowing gently in Washington, DC and the streets around the Capitol were quiet. Schools closed for the second time this week and the federal government suffered a two-hour delay. However, President Joe Biden hosted city councilors from across the country at the White House for the United States Conference of Mayors.
In Buffalo, New York, lake snow finally receded Thursday after burying parts of the city and some suburbs under 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow for five days. The Buffalo Bills again asked Friday for shovel workers to be paid $20 an hour to help clean Highmark Stadium before Sunday's NFL divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The city of Michigan, Indiana received 17 inches (43 centimeters) of lake effect snow on Friday. The snowfall later eased as a low-pressure area moved away, but the weather service warned of “bursts of much colder air” and urged drivers to be cautious of possible patches of slippery ice.
On the West Coast, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency due to deadly ice storms across the state. The weather agency said temperatures finally reached above freezing in many areas on Friday and snow and wind began to slowly melt.
Also read: Low temperatures complicate Chicago's efforts to accept asylum seekers
More freezing rain was expected in the Columbia River Gorge on Saturday, and temperatures there could remain below freezing until at least Sunday night.
Thousands of people were still without power in parts of the Willamette Valley, Oregon, following damage caused by the storms. Despite operators' repair efforts, more than 63,000 customers in the state were still without service as of Friday evening, according to the website poweroutage.us.
The National Weather Service warned of a possible thaw next week, when above-average temperatures are expected across most of the country.
Connect with the voice of America! Subscribe to our YouTube channels, WhatsApp and newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.