Oregon is the hardest hit state, with hundreds of thousands of residents without power. At least 10 people have died in the Portland, Oregon area from the cold storms. Deaths have been reported in at least nine states this week as deadly cold snaps hit the Pacific Northwest and as far south as Mississippi.
At least 14 deaths have been reported in Tennessee as authorities raised the red alert, reiterating their call to stay at home and avoid travel due to frost on some highways. Temperatures also continue to set records where in some regions it has reached -70 degrees Celsius. Schools and many institutions are closed.
In addition to casualties and damage, the freezing weather has caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights. A plane skidded off the runway at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. Airport officials said 50 passengers and three crew members were on board when the plane skidded off the runway in icy conditions, but none were injured.
Western New York reported more than 1.5 feet of snow, while lakes froze due to low temperatures. Further west, the state of Nebraska was hit by another snowstorm that closed highways. Snow hasn’t spared Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada either.
Meanwhile, snow and low temperatures have paralyzed transport in Germany and France. Frankfurt Airport canceled more than 1,000 flights while several runways were closed due to frost. Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s national rail operator, also canceled long-distance journeys.
In Cologne, the snow prompted people to use several resorts to ski. Heavy snowfall has also stopped traffic in much of Scandinavia. In some regions of Denmark, police have asked people to stay at home. Many schools in the southern regions of Germany remained closed.
Cities across France have also been gripped by the cold and snowy weather. The weather authorities have issued an orange alert for 25 departments in the north and center. Rail transport has been disrupted in some areas and some flights have been cancelled.
Snow also covered parts of Belgium as authorities warned of dangerous conditions on some roads in the south. In the city’s Royal Park in front of the palace, pedestrians strolled admiring the snow-covered statues.