A snowstorm has caused widespread power outages for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in parts of the American Midwest and the Pacific Northwest this past Saturday. Forecasts predict several states may become paralyzed due to ice accumulation.
The National Weather Service stated that the storm would bring heavy snowfall, fierce winds, and storms to the Midwest, with temperature dropping to dangerously freezing levels across the Rocky Mountains and the plains.
The storm has resulted in the cancellation and delay of more than 7,600 flights across the United States. Power outages have affected over 151,000 homes and businesses in Michigan, as well as over 200,000 customers in Oregon and Wisconsin.
In Iowa, Republican presidential hopefuls, vying for their party’s nomination, canceled some of their events ahead of the caucuses set to take place in the state on Monday, signaling the commencement of the nomination contests where parties select their presidential candidates for the November election.
Earlier, Donald Trump, who is favored to clinch the Republican nomination, pledged to attend campaign rallies despite the severe weather conditions. However, he opted for caution, choosing to participate via video.
Winds and Snow
The Weather Service anticipated polar winds and a wave of intense cold, warning of “dangerously cold winds” that could reach 43 degrees Celsius below zero in Iowa and across the region over the weekend.
Snowfall is also expected to accumulate, reaching up to 5 centimeters or more in the state, and up to 25 centimeters in some areas.
The Weather Service warned that Montana and the Dakotas might experience low temperatures down to minus 45 degrees Celsius. They cautioned that “these extreme temperatures mean there is a risk of frostbite on exposed skin and hypothermia.”
Meteorologists stated that significant snow accumulation could occur in parts of Oregon, Idaho, and Utah, while frozen and snowy precipitation is expected on Saturday in the South and the Northeast.
These storms follow a bout of extremely cold weather that hit most parts of the United States earlier in the week, causing the death of several individuals and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.
