Harsh weather conditions have been wreaking havoc across the United States, with a polar vortex set to grip the Rockies and the northern Plains following winter storms that battered the eastern U.S. over the weekend. The extreme weather has resulted in at least 10 fatalities, with nine individuals losing their lives in Kentucky due to flooding caused by heavy rains.
The National Weather Service has issued warnings of 'life-threatening cold' extending into Tuesday, with temperatures in northeastern Montana expected to plummet as low as 45 degrees below zero (-42.7 degrees Celsius) and wind chills reaching 60 below (-51 degrees Celsius). This marks the 10th and coldest polar vortex event of the season, as Arctic weather patterns push frigid air southward into the U.S. and Europe.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the death toll in the state had risen to nine, with most fatalities attributed to individuals getting stranded in floodwaters after their vehicles became submerged. The severe weather conditions prompted over 1,000 rescues in Kentucky, leading President Donald Trump to approve a disaster declaration for the state.
Parts of Kentucky and Tennessee experienced up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rainfall, resulting in swollen streams and widespread flooding. In Alabama, an EF-1 tornado touched down in Hale County, causing damage to mobile homes and power lines. Meanwhile, a levee failure in Obion County, Tennessee, led to mandatory evacuations in the small community of Rives.
Tragically, a person in Atlanta lost their life when a large tree fell on their home. The extreme cold has brought dangerously low wind chill temperatures, with North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota under 'extreme cold warnings.' Flood warnings have been issued across Tennessee and Arkansas, with water submerging cars and buildings in Kentucky and causing mudslides in Virginia.
In West Virginia, 13 counties were under a state of emergency due to flooding, leading to road closures and challenges for emergency responders. The severe weather conditions have also impacted power supply, resulting in outages along the eastern seaboard from New York to Georgia.
Across the Rockies, Midwest, and Northeast, snowstorms have made road travel hazardous, with Michigan reporting numerous crashes and Colorado witnessing fatal accidents. Avalanche warnings have been issued in various areas of the Rocky Mountains, emphasizing the dangerous conditions prevalent in the region.
