Over the weekend, a severe storm hit the eastern United States, leading to heavy rain and flooding in multiple states, resulting in at least 9 deaths. Kentucky was among the hardest-hit states, with significant flooding. Additionally, temperatures in various areas saw a significant drop, with some regions potentially reaching as low as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated on Sunday (February 16th) that hundreds of people were in need of rescue due to being trapped by floods. Among the casualties were a mother and her seven-year-old child, who were trapped in their car in the floodwaters.
Governor Beshear urged people to refrain from going out on the roads for their safety, emphasizing that rescue efforts are currently underway. He expressed pride in the Kentuckians risking their lives to respond to rescue calls.
Beshear also reported that approximately 39,000 households were left without power due to the storm. He issued a warning that in some areas, strong winds could exacerbate the power outage situation.
According to the Meteorological Bureau, the northern branch of the Kentucky River was forecasted to reach nearly 14 feet (4.3 meters) above the flood warning line on Sunday afternoon.
Photos shared on social media by authorities and residents depicted numerous vehicles and buildings submerged in floodwaters in central and eastern Kentucky.
The Emergency Management Office of Simpson County conducted multiple rescues of vehicles trapped in floods and urged people on Facebook to stay home if possible.
In Hart County, Georgia, the coroner reported that a mother and son were swept away by floods in the Bonnieville community on Saturday night. In Clay County, southeastern Kentucky, the body of a 73-year-old man was found in floodwaters.
In Atlanta, a large tree fell on a house, resulting in a fatality.
In Virginia, a mudslide blocked roads on Saturday night.
Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas were all under flood warnings, with the National Meteorological Bureau advising residents against traveling.
Senior forecaster Bob Oravec stated that some areas in Kentucky and Tennessee received up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain during the weekend storm. He warned that many streams were rising and overflowing, with flood durations often exceeding the period of rainfall.
On Saturday, freezing snow and frigid temperatures swept through much of the Midwest and northern Great Plains, with life-threatening cold in the Northern Great Plains region near the Canadian border. Temperatures in areas near the border of North Dakota and Minnesota were expected to drop to between minus 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (about minus 34 to minus 40 degrees Celsius), with even lower temperatures forecasted.
Parts of New England and northern New York were expected to see significant snowfall. In some areas, wind speeds could reach up to 60 miles per hour, leading to dangerous “whiteout” conditions where visibility is severely reduced and landscapes appear featureless.
Winter weather warnings were issued for these states and parts of Michigan. By Sunday night, Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and much of Michigan were expected to receive up to four inches (10.6 centimeters) of snow.
In Denver, weekend temperatures were set to drop to 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius), prompting the city to open shelters for the homeless.
Tornado warnings were issued for parts of Georgia and Florida.
Meteorologists noted that the United States was on the brink of experiencing the season’s tenth and coldest polar vortex event. The Northern Rockies and Northern Plains regions would be the first to be impacted. Arctic meteorological forces were combining, driving cold air that usually stayed near the Arctic into the United States and Europe.
This article was referenced from the Associated Press.