Funviralpark
CNN
—
Hundreds of thousands of Americans plunged into darkness on Christmas Eve after destructive winds and heavy snowfall from a winter storm destroyed power lines across the country, endangered motorists and killed at least 11 people on the roads. I wake up inside and turn off the lights in the trees.
As bone-chilling temperatures continue to ravage the United States this holiday weekend, relentless storms ravage parts of the Midwest and East, causing heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and even rippling along the Northeastern coast. It even causes floods. We won’t let our guard down until Christmas Day is over.
Related: Follow Live Updates
At least 11 people have died in four states since Wednesday. This is the result of dangerous and life-threatening situations that have developed across wide swaths of the country this week.
Kansas Highway Patrol told CNN on Friday.
In Kansas City, Missouri, one person died after a car slid off an icy road and into an icy creek, a Kansas City police first responder said.
Four people were killed and others injured in a car accident in Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine said.
Kentucky reported three deaths from the storm. Two of them were in car accidents and one of him was homeless in Louisville, Gov. Andy Beshear said. The man’s body was found outdoors with no obvious signs of trauma and an autopsy would be required to determine the cause of death, police said.
For days, forecasters and officials have been sounding the alarm about the severe conditions the storm promises to bring, telling drivers to stay clear of icy, snow-covered roads and telling other travelers has requested that vacation plans be modified for optimal safety.
“Remember that your loved ones care more about you being alive and having another Christmas than whether you can have it this Christmas.
“People need to stay off the road. … Staying together is more important than ever, but staying safe is even more important than that,” Beshear added.
The ominous warning comes as the storm continues to descend from the Great Lakes and northeastern interior in blizzard conditions, posing the dual threat of heavy snowfall and high winds.
Hundreds of drivers were stranded and in need of rescue this week in multiple states, including New York, South Dakota and Minnesota. Some states have closed major highways to discourage drivers from getting behind the wheel. Additionally, on Friday he had more than 5,000 flights canceled and more than 10,000 delayed.
To make matters worse, even if the snow stops or slows down, wind speeds nearing or exceeding 60 miles per hour are predicted, creating a high likelihood of whiteout conditions that can cause damage and power outages. There is a nature.
“Without power, it’s going to get dangerously cold,” said Jackie Bray, commissioner of New York Homeland Security and Emergency Services, as people seek out warm shelters offered by several counties. “Don’t assume you can survive this cold overnight without heating. You may not.”
Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses are without electricity so far, according to PowerOutage.US. There may not be adequate heating or hot water due to persistently cold temperatures on Saturday.
New Hampshire, New York and Virginia each had more than 50,000 power outages as of early Saturday, while Maine reported more than 240,000 power outages, according to the website.
In Pictures: Winter Storms Affect US
Here’s what else you can expect for Christmas Eve this year.
• Many people catch colds. More than 175 million people are on wind alerts for much of the central and eastern United States. “The life-threatening cold and dangerous wind chill will pose a potentially life-threatening hazard to stranded travelers,” the National Weather Service said.
• Records southern temperature: Atlanta and Tallahassee, Florida, are expected to see record low temperatures on December 24, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
• Severe cold elsewhere: In Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Christmas Eve will be the coldest day ever on Saturday. In Washington DC, on Christmas Eve he could be the second coldest after 1989. New York is expected to have its coldest Christmas Eve since 1906. 1983.
• Flood threat continues: Both coastal and inland flooding risks lie in the northeast, with heavy rains pouring down on the melting snowpacks. Strong land winds can cause moderate to large isolated coastal flooding.
