Jan 13 (BBC/GNA) – A major winter storm has unleashed icy winds and heavy snowfall across large parts of the US, disrupting travel and leaving thousands without power.
The storms will be followed by a bitter cold arctic chill into the weekend, with temperatures dipping near -50F (-45C) in some areas.
Nearly 10in ((25.4cm) of snow in Iowa, where the 2024 election cycle kicks off on Monday, has upended campaign events.
Forecasters have called it a “life-threatening winter weather”.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued weather alerts in nearly every state, as snow is in the forecast into Saturday from as far west as Oregon to as far east as Maine. More than 70 million people are under winter weather alerts.
Extreme weather has forced the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights as of Friday, most of which were scheduled to fly out of Chicago, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware.
Nearly 200,000 people are without power as of Friday evening, with Michigan and Wisconsin most affected.
GNA/Credit: BBC