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A severe Arctic freeze gripping the United States has claimed at least 30 lives, including seven people who died in a plane crash Sunday night, according to reports compiled by news agencies. The deadly polar vortex has left more than half a million homes without power as of Tuesday morning, with conditions expected to worsen in the coming days.
The extreme cold weather event has brought heavy snowfall exceeding 30 centimeters across approximately 20 states. According to poweroutage.us, a specialized tracking website, more than 530,000 customers remained without electricity Tuesday morning, predominantly in the southern United States, particularly in Mississippi and Tennessee where ice accumulation caused power lines to collapse.
Arctic Freeze Impacts Southern States Hardest
Tennessee suffered the most severe outages with over 175,000 affected customers, while Mississippi reported more than 140,000 without power. Additionally, approximately 100,000 subscribers in Louisiana experienced electrical service disruptions. The southern states, unaccustomed to such extreme winter conditions, face significant challenges in recovery efforts.
Meteorologist Alison Santorelli stated that power outages may persist for several more days as authorities struggle to recover from the storm’s impact. She noted that most affected regions lack the necessary equipment or resources to clear snow and repair damage following such events because they rarely experience these conditions.
Polar Vortex Brings Record-Breaking Temperatures
The National Weather Service has characterized this Arctic freeze as one of the worst storms to hit the United States in recent decades. Temperatures are expected to plummet dramatically in the coming days due to a polar air mass, particularly in northern regions where wind chill could reach minus 45 degrees Celsius. The storm is linked to a polar vortex, a mass of air that typically rotates above the North Pole but has extended southward.
Meteorological authorities warn that ice accumulations could have “catastrophic” consequences. The polar vortex phenomenon has brought unprecedented cold to regions normally experiencing milder winter weather, creating dangerous conditions for millions of Americans.
Death Toll Rises from Cold Weather Events
The harsh climate conditions have resulted in at least 30 fatalities, according to statistics gathered from American media sources. In Texas, authorities confirmed the death of a 16-year-old girl in a weather-related accident. Meanwhile, two people died from hypothermia in Louisiana, and another person perished in Iowa due to a collision.
Eight deaths were discovered in New York, with investigations underway to determine the exact causes. However, the deadliest single incident occurred Sunday evening when a plane crashed during takeoff amid a snowstorm in Maine, killing seven of its eight passengers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Transportation Chaos Across Major Cities
States of emergency have been declared in approximately 20 states plus the federal capital Washington, resulting in massive transportation disruptions. Air travel came to a near standstill at major airports in Washington, Philadelphia, and New York. According to FlightAware, a specialized aviation tracking service, more than 22,000 flights have been canceled since Saturday, with thousands more experiencing delays.
Authorities continue monitoring the situation as the Arctic freeze maintains its grip on much of the country. Recovery efforts remain hampered by ongoing severe weather conditions, with no immediate timeline provided for when normal operations might resume across affected regions.
