According to the BBC, adverse weather conditions have led to the cancellation or delay of nearly 14,500 flights. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), some areas in the northeastern USA received over 50 cm of snow in just one day.
Reports of casualties have come from states such as Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and New York. According to USA Today, the ages of the deceased range from 17 to 96 years.
Experts, as reported by Sky News, estimate the total damage and economic losses from the storm to be between 105-115 billion dollars.
According to PowerOutage.com, as of Tuesday morning, more than half a million people remained without electricity. The highest number of outages is observed in Tennessee, where severe frost has settled in Nashville. Locals report that they are experiencing conditions of cold and darkness.
“There are many fallen trees and power lines on the streets, which is blocking traffic,” said Joy Flores, vice president of the Nashville Rescue Mission homeless shelter. According to her, the center is receiving constant calls from people who are left without power.
Texas authorities report serious problems in various areas of the state. In the city of Frisco, a teenager died in an accident while sledding, and another girl is in critical condition.
A dead man was found on the side of the highway in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Authorities are investigating to determine whether his death is related to the bad weather conditions.
The Louisiana Department of Health reports two deaths from hypothermia.
In New York, according to local authorities, eight people have died since the onset of the bad weather on Friday due to the sharp drop in temperature.
Although meteorologists previously suggested that the storm might weaken, as of Tuesday morning, forecasts have changed. Prolonged frosts are expected in the central and eastern regions, and another strong storm may hit again by the weekend, especially in the east.
Canada has also felt the effects of the storm, particularly in Ottawa and Quebec, where transportation issues arose and many schools closed. Serious disruptions are also observed in Ontario, and snowfall continues in the Atlantic provinces, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
