Five people have died as a freezing winter storm envelops parts of the United States.
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The weather has become so severe that seven states have declared an emergency. Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Maryland, and Missouri. Many schools have been closed across the affected states. The storm has also wreaked havoc on air traffic, with airports canceling over 2000 flights.
Severe weather has led to multiple deaths. According to Sky News, two people were killed in Kansas when their vehicle rolled down a hill. In Missouri, a man was fatally injured while moving snow in Jackson County. Meanwhile, in Virginia, a driver of a pickup truck died after losing control of his vehicle. Police attribute the weather and alcohol consumption as the primary causes of the accident. A man's body has also been found in a Texas bus shelter. Authorities believe he died from the severe weather.
The Daily Mail reports that the storm also caused widespread power outages. Around 190,000 people from Maryland to Missouri were without power, with the vast majority of those hailing from Virginia.
The Worst Of The Storm Is Over, But An Aftermath Is Expected
The worst of the storm has passed, but several areas are still buried under multiple inches of snow. USA Today reports that another bout of ice and snowfall will hit the states in the coming days. Effects of the storm will likely be observed between Texas and Carolina, where up to 6 inches of snow could fall.
The outlet explains that the biggest issue many cities may face is "ice accumulation." Tom Kines, a Meteorologist, explained, "In places that don't get snow or ice very often, such as Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, and Nashville, it will be a big deal."
AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said "There will be enough energy in this storm for snow and ice in parts of Texas. We are forecasting several inches of snowfall in Dallas and along parts of I-20 in northern Texas. This storm could essentially shut down travel across northern Texas by Thursday night into Friday."
Even if the snowfall isn't too severe, ice can cause significant disruptions on roads and make pavements potentially dangerous.
