Severe Winter Storm Impacting the Southeast
BELZONI, Miss. — As the Carolinas and Virginia anticipate a severe winter storm, tens of thousands of residents found themselves on the sixth day without power this Friday. This storm could potentially bring the heaviest snowfall that parts of North Carolina have seen in years.
The National Weather Service reported that temperatures in cities like Nashville, Tennessee, are expected to drop to around 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius) by Friday night due to an influx of arctic air. Many are still grappling with power outages after a previous storm left a wake of snow and ice across the eastern U.S.
According to an outage tracking website, over 230,000 homes and businesses were without power on Friday morning, predominantly in Mississippi and Tennessee.
Forecasters predict that freezing temperatures will persist in the eastern United States into February. Heavy snowfall is likely for the Carolinas, Virginia, and northeastern Georgia this weekend, with accumulations reaching up to a foot (30 centimeters) in parts of North Carolina. Snow is also expected along the East Coast from Maryland to Maine.
Predictions indicate strong winds and moderate to heavy snow from Saturday night into early Sunday morning. This may create blizzard-like conditions before the storm moves offshore on Sunday morning.
As a dangerous cold front sweeps through the southern U.S. on Friday, experts warn that the risk of hypothermia is rising for those in Mississippi and Tennessee who have been stuck without power amid freezing temperatures for nearly a week.
“The longer you’re exposed to the cold, the worse your symptoms will be,” suggested Dr. Hans Haus, an emergency medicine professor. “Temporary cold can be managed, but prolonged exposure is when problems arise.”
More vulnerable groups—such as the elderly, small children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions—might start experiencing hypothermia symptoms within hours of being in such cold conditions, according to Dr. Zheng Ben Ma from the University of Washington Medical Center’s Emergency Department.
This can lead to problems like fatigue, slurred speech, and even memory loss.
However, as the days without power stretch on, even generally healthy young people can start feeling the impact. Dr. Haus noted that after several days, especially around the sixth or seventh day, everyone is at higher risk for the negative health effects associated with cold weather.
Officials in Mississippi stated that this winter storm ranks among the worst since 1994. Approximately 80 warming centers have been set up across the state, which faces ongoing economic challenges.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves remarked that the National Guard is providing meals, blankets, and other essentials via truck and helicopter. Meanwhile, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that over 600 packages of warming supplies and more than 2,200 gallons of gasoline and diesel had been distributed.
Tragically, at least 85 fatalities have been reported from regions impacted by the severe cold, stretching from Texas to New Jersey. Roughly half of these deaths occurred in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Some were attributed to hypothermia, while others may have resulted from carbon monoxide exposure.
Dr. Avi Mehrotra from the University of North Carolina stressed the importance of ensuring that indoor heat sources—like generators—do not produce harmful carbon monoxide fumes.
