Icy winter conditions gripped the United States on Saturday as a series of Arctic storms loomed, posing a threat to break low-temperature records across the heartland. The cold wave extended from coast to coast, impacting various activities, from football playoffs to presidential campaigns.
As the three-day Martin Luther King Jr Day holiday weekend kicked off, the weather forecast painted a diverse picture of color-coded advisories, including ice storm warnings in Oregon, blizzard warnings in the northern plains, and high wind warnings in New Mexico.
"It's overall been a terrible, terrible winter. And it came out of nowhere – two days," remarked Dan Abinana in Des Moines, Iowa. The state experienced heavy snowfall, leaving residents grappling with unexpected winter challenges.
In Portland, Oregon, an investigation into a hypothermia death was initiated as the city, unaccustomed to severe winter conditions, faced freezing rain and heavy snow. Other weather-related deaths were reported in California, Idaho, Illinois, and Wisconsin earlier in the week.
Nebraska declared a state of emergency due to hazardous conditions, with up to 2 feet of snowfall in some areas and wind chills well below zero. Over 1,700 miles of Nebraska highways were closed, and state police assisted stranded motorists.
Roads in Iowa faced challenges, with some cars stuck for hours on Interstate 80, leaving 100 vehicles trapped. State troopers dealt with numerous crashes and motorist-assist calls. Governors from New York to Louisiana urged residents to brace for worrisome weather.
Parts of Montana experienced temperatures below -30°F (-34°C), with similar frigid conditions expected in northern Kansas and the Dakotas. St. Louis faced rare and "life-threatening" cold. The National Weather Service warned of record-breaking low temperatures.
Multiple back-to-back storms have swept across the country, causing disruptions and challenges. Despite the extreme weather, dedicated Trump supporters faced cancellations of campaign events by contenders Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and former President Donald Trump.
Power outages affected hundreds of thousands of households and businesses, particularly in Michigan, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Record-high tides in the northeast led to flooding in Maine and New Hampshire.
With temperatures expected to drop as low as -14°F (-26°C) in parts of Iowa on the day of the caucuses, the weather poses challenges for voters and candidates alike. The winter storms continue to impact various aspects of daily life and raise concerns about prolonged cold weather across the country.