A devastating winter storm has left a trail of destruction across the United States, with Tennessee officials confirming eight weather-related fatalities within the state. This brings the nationwide death toll to at least twenty-five since the severe weather began impacting regions from Texas to New England last Friday.
Widespread Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage
As communities continue to grapple with the aftermath of heavy snowfall, ice accumulation, and perilously low temperatures, significant power disruptions persist. According to data from Poweroutage.us, nearly 400,000 customers remained without electricity on Wednesday morning. Tennessee and Mississippi were particularly hard-hit, with approximately 129,000 and 120,000 outages respectively.
In Nashville, the scale of the damage is substantial. Nashville Electric Service reported on Wednesday that the storm had caused 303 broken utility poles. Approximately 900 line workers are currently engaged in restoration efforts, with additional crews being mobilised to assist.
Forecasters Monitor a New and Potent Winter Threat
As recovery operations continue, meteorological attention is shifting to a new weather system developing for the weekend. The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center has indicated that a "winter storm is likely this weekend" for areas including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
The agency stated that confidence is increasing for impactful, heavy snow across much of the Carolinas and parts of southern Virginia, potentially beginning as early as Friday night and lasting through the weekend. Forecasters have cautioned that the system could intensify into a "bomb cyclone," bringing the potential for significant snowfall, strong gusty winds, and coastal flooding from the Carolinas northward to New England.
Regional Warnings and Preparations
Weather officials have issued specific advisories for various regions along the East Coast:
- Carolinas and Virginia: The National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City, North Carolina, has highlighted high probabilities of at least minor accumulating snow. A combination of strong winds and higher-than-normal tides may also lead to significant coastal flooding in the area.
- Mid-Atlantic: The National Weather Service in Baltimore and Washington DC is monitoring a chance for light snow in parts of the region later on Wednesday.
- Northeast: In New York City, a cold weather advisory remains in effect, with bitterly cold temperatures expected to persist. Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned that the city is experiencing what may be its longest recorded stretch of below-freezing temperatures, which has already been linked to fatalities.
Ongoing Disruption to Services and Education
The storm's lingering effects continue to disrupt daily life. In New York City, ferry services were suspended on Tuesday afternoon and remained closed on Wednesday due to ice accumulation in the East River, Hudson River, and New York Harbor.
The severe weather has also forced widespread school closures and a shift to remote learning in several states. On Wednesday, physical school buildings were closed in parts of Maryland, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Forecasters have emphasised that several factors for the potential weekend winter storm remain uncertain, and changes to the forecast are anticipated as the system develops and moves closer to the coast. Residents in the affected regions are urged to stay informed through official weather channels and prepare for potentially hazardous conditions.
