At least 61 people have lost their lives in the wake of a brutal winter storm that swept across nearly two-thirds of the US, plunging millions into subzero temperatures and leaving thousands without power. As the extreme cold continues to grip large swaths of the country, officials are confirming dozens more deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to at least 41.
The victims were succumbing to hypothermia, car accidents, sledding accidents, and sudden cardiac emergencies linked to shoveling snow. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed that 10 people had been found dead in the city, though not all their causes of death have been confirmed yet. The storm's impact was felt across multiple states, with a staggering 200 million people affected by heavy snow, rain, sleet, and freezing temperatures.
The National Weather Service warned that this could be one of the longest periods of cold in several decades, with wind chills plummeting well below zero degrees Fahrenheit and temperatures hovering between 15 and 25 degrees below normal. In New York City, wind chills ranged from -15 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, according to CBS New York.
The storm has also left hundreds of thousands without power for days, with over 400,000 outages reported across southern and southeastern states, including Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The power outages were largely due to heavy snow and strong winds that brought down trees and power lines.
Meteorologists have warned of another Arctic blast on its way, potentially bringing record-low temperatures and more snow. A new winter storm is expected to bring a string of record-breaking lows, with pockets of the Northeast bracing for more snow and Lake effect snow warnings in place until Thursday night. The forecast for this possible "bomb cyclone" over Massachusetts remains uncertain, but meteorologists have described it as potentially catastrophic.
The victims were succumbing to hypothermia, car accidents, sledding accidents, and sudden cardiac emergencies linked to shoveling snow. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed that 10 people had been found dead in the city, though not all their causes of death have been confirmed yet. The storm's impact was felt across multiple states, with a staggering 200 million people affected by heavy snow, rain, sleet, and freezing temperatures.
The National Weather Service warned that this could be one of the longest periods of cold in several decades, with wind chills plummeting well below zero degrees Fahrenheit and temperatures hovering between 15 and 25 degrees below normal. In New York City, wind chills ranged from -15 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, according to CBS New York.
The storm has also left hundreds of thousands without power for days, with over 400,000 outages reported across southern and southeastern states, including Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The power outages were largely due to heavy snow and strong winds that brought down trees and power lines.
Meteorologists have warned of another Arctic blast on its way, potentially bringing record-low temperatures and more snow. A new winter storm is expected to bring a string of record-breaking lows, with pockets of the Northeast bracing for more snow and Lake effect snow warnings in place until Thursday night. The forecast for this possible "bomb cyclone" over Massachusetts remains uncertain, but meteorologists have described it as potentially catastrophic.