Recent News: December 15, 2024
Millions of people in the Eastern United States were still under the grip of winter’s icy blast on Friday, due to temperatures remaining well below average. Iowa and other areas received ice storm warnings over the weekend, with several regions expected to continue facing severe weather conditions.
According to data from poweroutage.us, as of the time of reporting, California had over 144,000 households without power; Washington State had more than 34,000 households experiencing power outages; Texas had nearly 13,000 households without electricity; and Iowa had close to 6,000 households affected by power outages.
The National Weather Service warned that temperatures below freezing could lead to ice storms. The ice storm threat was set to impact certain areas in the Midwest over the weekend. Meanwhile, in the Western United States, an atmospheric river event was expected to bring heavy rain, mountain snow, and strong winds to southern Oregon and parts of northern/central California from Friday to Saturday.
On Friday morning, cold weather prevailed in the eastern half of the United States, stretching from Minnesota to northern Florida and up to New England, continuing the nationwide trend of low temperatures in recent days.
A new storm system was moving into the Plains and Midwest on Friday into Saturday morning. The National Weather Service issued ice storm warnings for Iowa and freezing rain advisories for areas from Kansas to Minnesota.
Cities like Des Moines, Minneapolis, and Omaha were under severe weather alerts from late Friday into Saturday morning.
Freezing rain could lead to ice accumulations of over half an inch on roads, posing risks for drivers. The Des Moines weather department stated that power outages and tree damage may result from the icy conditions and storms. Roads, especially bridges and overpasses, would become slick and dangerous from late Friday into Saturday morning, making travel nearly impossible.
The weather department strongly advised against travel. For those who must travel, it was recommended to have extra flashlights, food, and water in the car for emergencies. Walking on stairs, sidewalks, and driveways required extra caution as surfaces could be icy and slippery, increasing the risk of falls and injuries.
The bitter cold on Friday morning saw temperatures drop below zero in Minneapolis, near zero in Chicago, and into the teens and single digits in the Northeast. Northern Florida and southern Georgia experienced temperatures near freezing, prompting frost warnings.
Lake-effect snow was expected. Lake-effect snow warnings were in effect on Friday morning for Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and western New York. Accumulations of 6 inches to a foot were forecasted in some areas. Cold air was set to persist into Saturday before gradually easing up on Sunday.
Residents under threat from winter storms were urged by the weather bureau to ensure they have necessary supplies at home, in their vehicles, and at their workplaces, including chargers, food, fuel, and jumper cables.
The agency also recommended ensuring that pets and farm animals had essential items they needed.
(Note: This article references reports from ABC News and USA Today.)