There have been at least 95 confirmed weather-related deaths linked to the flooding Winter weather last weekaccording to a CBS News tally, even as dangerous cold continues to impact the country.
The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed 25 weather-related deaths, and at least 16 people died in Oregon, including three adults who died when a tree fell on their car. CBS News previously reported that a child in the car survived.
More deaths were reported in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Washington, Kentucky, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey and others.
Some deaths are still under investigation to confirm that they are weather-related. That includes one person killed in a five-car crash in Kentucky, and four deaths in Illinois, including two from a car crash. Some states have warned drivers to be extra careful on the roads during a deep freeze. Mississippi state officials asked residents to “be aware of black ice on the roads, and not drive unless necessary.” The state reported three additional weather-related deaths on Sunday, bringing the total in Mississippi to 11 since Jan. 14.
Dangerous weather continued across the United States this weekend. Tens of millions of people faced extreme cold and below-average temperatures on Saturday, and the eastern half of the country is likely to see some of the coldest weather so far this season with dangerous winds and hard freeze warnings extending into northern Florida.
Driving will be dangerous across wide swaths of the country Sunday night into Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Freezing rain is expected To affect parts of the southern Plains, the central Mississippi Valley, and the Ohio Valley.
to Stay safe in cold weatherExperts recommend dressing in layers if you have to go outside, being careful while operating appliances like space heaters and watching for serious symptoms like hypothermia.
On the West Coast, Oregon remains under a state of emergency after deadly ice storms swept through the region, cutting off power to more than 45,000 customers. Other power outages were reported in Pennsylvania, California, New Mexico and Indiana.
Meteorologists say snowy and icy conditions are expected to continue until early next week.
“Arctic air will combine with moisture from the Gulf to form an icy mess from Oklahoma to Illinois. Travel will be dangerous Monday,” Molly McCollum, a meteorologist at The Weather Channel, said Saturday.
By midweek, the warming trend is expected to cause the ice to melt. According to the Weather Channel forecast, warm air and rain could combine to bring the risk of flooding to the Midwest and Northeast.
Kerry Breen
