Winter Storm Warning for Maryland and Washington
Patrick Smith
A winter storm warning has been issued for parts of Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northeastern Virginia until 10 a.m. ET this morning.
Yesterday, more than an inch of snow fell in Baltimore and Washington, the heaviest snowfall in the two cities in two years.
What are the dangers of cold winds?
Patrick Smith
More than 140 million people are under wind chill advisories or warnings, and are being urged to be careful and stay out of the wind. But why is it so dangerous?
Wind chill is when wind makes cold weather colder. The stronger the wind, the faster the body loses heat and the greater the chance of hypothermia or frostbite.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warns that higher wind speeds can significantly increase risks.
With temperatures as low as -40 F and wind speeds of 5 mph, frostbite can occur in 10 minutes or less. When the temperature is -20 below zero but with wind speeds of 45 mph, frostbite can occur in 5 minutes or less. The wind chill value in both cases is -58 degrees below zero, but much higher winds remove body heat at a much faster rate.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) advises not to go outside at all when the wind temperature reaches -50 below zero or below, but if absolutely necessary, cover every part of the body, including fingers, face, etc. People are advised to drink plenty of fluids, but avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol because they constrict blood vessels.
Video shows the bus sliding on ice and crashing into a fire hydrant in Philadelphia
NBC News
Video filmed in North Philadelphia shows a bus sliding on ice and hitting a fire hydrant while trying to drive on a snow-covered road. No injuries were reported.
Fallen tree obliterates a house in Oregon
Max Butterworth
A photo released by the local fire department shows a home that was severely damaged after a tree fell due to severe weather in Lake Oswego, Oregon, yesterday.
Freezing weather is closing schools across the country
Patrick Smith
Schools across the United States will be closed today after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday yesterday. Below is a list of areas that are fully or partially closed.
In chicago. All classes and after-school activities are canceled in Illinois and Buffalo, New York amid temperatures as low as -30 below zero with wind chills.
There are a range of closures across the South, including: North Georgia; Houston, Texas; Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; East Texas; Baton Rouge, LA; Jackson, MS; Alabama and Little Rock, AR.
The United States is still frozen, and there is more to come
Patrick Smith
Another day of snow storms, warnings and subzero temperatures were set for communities across the Lower 48, the National Weather Service said early today.
The weather service said winter precipitation along the east and west coasts coincided with “cold Arctic air” over the central and southern parts of the country. Potential record cold temperatures are expected across the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and Midwest today.
Wind chills below 30 below zero may extend south and into the Mississippi Valley. Nearly 80% of the United States was experiencing subzero temperatures overnight.
The mid-Atlantic to New England region has widespread winter warnings or advisories, and 2 to 4 inches of snow is possible in New York State.
Significant freezing rain is expected in the Pacific Northwest, including Portland, with ice storm warnings in place — and up to a half-inch of ice could fall, the weather service said. Parts of the Cascade Mountains in the Rocky Mountains could see 15 to 28 inches of snow.
There may be a brief respite in the harsh winter weather from Wednesday onwards, with below average but not too cold temperatures expected. But another blast of cold air is expected in the Arctic from Thursday into Friday, which will trigger more weather warnings in its wake.
State of emergency as US faces Arctic blast
Jesse Kirsch
Millions of Americans are still dealing with the Arctic blast moving across the country. Tonight, nearly 80% of the United States is below freezing temperatures. The storm system is already believed to have claimed ten lives. Jesse Kirsch reports from Michigan.
