At least 14 people have died as powerful winter storms continue to batter the central and eastern United States, bringing floods, hurricane-force winds, and dangerously cold temperatures, officials said Monday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of an advancing winter storm system carrying Arctic air, with wind chills expected to plunge as low as -60°F (-51°C) in Montana and North Dakota.
Kentucky has been hit hardest, with Governor Andy Beshear announcing Monday that the state’s death toll had risen to 12, up from eight the previous day. Many of the victims drowned after being trapped in their vehicles by rapidly rising floodwaters, including a mother and her child.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed one fatality in his state, warning that further flooding remained a threat. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Georgia, a man was killed when a massive tree crashed onto his home early Sunday.
Authorities have declared states of emergency across affected regions, with Beshear urging residents to stay off the roads. He reported that first responders had rescued more than 1,000 people in 24 hours.
The NWS warned that the Arctic blast would send temperatures plunging across vast areas, affecting the central plains, the eastern seaboard, and even the Gulf Coast.
While power has been restored to thousands of homes, more than 50,000 customers in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland remain without electricity, according to poweroutage.us.