The number of people who have lost their lives due to a severe snowstorm and extreme cold gripping much of the United States has risen to 30, while more than 554,000 people remain without electricity, officials said.
The “historic” snowfall and extreme cold conditions continue to affect the U.S.
In some regions, snow depth has exceeded 30 centimeters, and transportation has nearly come to a standstill due to heavy snowfall and icy conditions, with many schools being closed.
The U.S. National Weather Service reported that snow accumulation reached up to 50 centimeters in parts of northern Pennsylvania, while wind chill temperatures dropped as low as minus 31 degrees Celsius.
In the state of Mississippi, “warming centers” were established following the most severe snowstorm since 1994. Homes, businesses, and roads across the state were damaged.
Authorities stated that the death toll has risen to 30 due to traffic accidents, accidents involving snow removal vehicles, and exposure to extreme cold, adding that the cold wave affecting two-thirds of the country is expected to continue in the coming days.
According to the online power outage tracking website PowerOutage, more than 554,000 people are still without electricity. Flight tracking data show that over 12,000 flights nationwide have been canceled or delayed.
The U.S. National Weather Service had previously announced that more than 200 million people across the country are affected, with dangerous icing in southern states and snowstorms in northeastern states.
Officials warned that the snowstorm will persist across much of the country, followed by extremely low temperatures, and that as a result, icing and “dangerous travel and infrastructure impacts” are expected to last for several days.