Snow, sleet and power outages: 140m Americans under warnings for major winter storm

A powerful winter storm has descended on a vast swath of the US, leaving over 140 million Americans under its gaze. As it sweeps across the country, heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain have become the unwelcome companions of many, while others face crippling power outages.

The storm's impact is being felt from the southern Rockies to the northern Appalachians, with areas of Oklahoma, Iowa, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and the southeastern US all under its watchful eye. The severe cold weather has rendered driving conditions hazardous across much of the Midwest and Southern US, as streets and highways are slickened by ice.

The cold has claimed three lives in New York City alone, with a 67-year-old man found dead on Manhattan's Third Avenue on Saturday morning, followed by two more bodies – a 30-something man and a woman in her 60s – discovered separately in Brooklyn that afternoon. The causes of death were attributed to "weather-related circumstances."

As the storm intensifies, Dominion Energy has warned of widespread power outages expected across Virginia and North Carolina, while Arkansas residents are bracing themselves for accidents on I-40. In Mississippi, a third of counties have been affected by ice forming on roads and bridges.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued catastrophic ice accumulation warnings for regions spanning from the southern plains to the mid-Atlantic and south-east. Communities can expect bitterly cold temperatures and dangerously low wind chills in its wake. The agency had previously warned that power outages are certain, particularly in areas with heavy ice accumulating on trees and power lines.

Over 130,000 customers have lost power nationwide, including around 61,600 in Texas alone. Donald Trump's Truth Social platform has been updated to reflect his administration's efforts to coordinate with state and local officials in response to the storm.

Kentucky's governor, Andy Beshear, has warned that areas can expect up to 15 inches of snow, ice accumulation, and dangerously cold temperatures. He urged residents to avoid travel and prepare for the worst. Meanwhile, New York City is bracing itself for a snowy weekend, with forecasters predicting snow totals ranging from 3 to 16 inches.

As the US struggles to cope with this powerful winter storm, it's clear that the situation will only worsen in the days ahead – making recovery efforts all but impossible. The prolonged cold snap and ice accumulation pose a significant threat to public health and safety, highlighting the urgent need for vigilance and preparation from individuals across the country.
 
Ugh I'm so worried about these people stuck in the snow 🌨️! It's crazy how fast this storm is moving and how much damage it could do. I mean, 15 inches of snow? That's like, a lot! And those power outages are no joke... I've had them at my place before and it's so frustrating not having any electricity or water 🤕. But you know what's even more concerning? The cold temperatures and wind chills. Like, how are people supposed to survive that? It's just so harsh and unforgiving ❄️. And with 130k+ customers already losing power, I can only imagine the chaos that's gonna ensue when it gets worse. We gotta stay vigilant and check on our neighbors, you know? Can't let the storm do all the damage for us 😊.
 
🌨️ this is getting crazy! the storm's impact is being felt so hard across the us - 140 million people are under its gaze? that's just devastating. power outages are crippling some areas and i feel bad for those who can't stay warm. the cold temp and ice accumulation warnings are super serious too, i hope people are taking this seriously. kentucky is gonna get hit hard, 15 inches of snow?! 🤯 recovery efforts will be tough after the storm passes... we gotta keep an eye on each other and make sure everyone's safe ❤️
 
this storm is getting crazy 🌨️😬 it's like the whole country is under its grip. power outages are a big deal, especially in texas where they lost over 60k customers. i feel bad for those who have to deal with freezing temps and icy roads. the gov is doing their thing, but you can tell it's gonna be tough for people to recover from this mess 🤕 at least kentucky is preparing for up to 15 inches of snow... that's a lot of shoveling! 😂
 
Ugh, just what we needed to make this winter perfect... a massive snowstorm to go with our crippling anxiety 😒. 140 million people under weather-related doom is no joke, folks! The thought of driving conditions getting worse by the minute and power outages making life even more unbearable is just a nightmare waiting to happen 💔. And of course, we get news that it's going to be a "catastrophic" ice accumulation situation... because one more reason for our daily struggles wasn't enough 🤯. Anyone else planning on hibernating for the next few days and just waiting for spring? ☃️
 
Wow, like, can you even imagine having 140 million people affected by a single storm? It's insane! They should have some serious backup plans in place to deal with power outages and stuff 🤯💥. And I'm so sorry to hear about all those lives lost already... it's just devastating 😔.
 
Ugh, this is crazy! Like 140 million people are dealing with some serious stuff right now 🌨️💦. I'm in no way an expert, but I do know that when you have a storm like this, it's gonna take some time for things to get back to normal. And you're right, recovery efforts will be super hard, especially if it keeps getting colder and snowier 🤕. I've been following the updates, and it's crazy how bad it is in certain areas... like Texas, wow, 61,600 people without power? That's just, like, whoa 😩. I hope everyone stays safe out there! 💡
 
Ugh, can't believe I'm even reading about this 🌨️. 140 million people under this storm's grip? How do they expect us to recover when the power is already out for so many? It's like Dominion Energy just gave up on their customers... or did they? Anyway, 130k+ folks without electricity and it's getting worse? That's terrifying 🚨. And don't even get me started on the traffic conditions. I-40 in Arkansas, are you kidding me?! It's not just the power outages that are a problem, it's the whole system failing us. This storm is exposing all the weak points in our infrastructure and it's just heartbreaking to see 🤕.
 
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