Powerful winter storm hits Southeast as much of East Coast sees frigid temperatures

A powerful winter storm has brought a mix of snow, freezing temperatures, and power outages to the Southeast, with tens of thousands of homes and businesses still without electricity. The "bomb cyclone" storm, which moved into the region last week, was blamed for dozens of weather-related deaths.

The storm system is now moving away from the Outer Banks in North Carolina and pulling northwards, leaving behind a trail of heavy snowfall, coastal flooding, and high winds. The city of Charlotte in North Carolina saw one of its heaviest snowfalls in years, with over a foot of snow accumulation reported in parts of the region.

Temperatures plummeted to near zero to single digits in the South, with wind chills posing a significant threat to vulnerable populations. Experts warned of the growing risks of hypothermia and frostbite, particularly for those without access to warm clothing or adequate shelter.

In Florida, snow flurries were reported in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, with temperatures dipping into the 20s in the Panhandle and 30s in South Florida. The cold snap left iguanas motionless on the ground, as they go dormant in response to extreme cold.

Over 102,000 homes and businesses are still without power in the Southeast, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us. Many of those affected have been without electricity for days, since last week's storm. In Tennessee, officials reported that the state's worst winter storm since 1994 had left thousands without power, with National Guard troops delivering supplies by truck and helicopter.

The storm also brought significant disruptions to transportation, with flight cancellations exceeding 2,500 in the US on Saturday and Sunday. More than 1,500 of those cancellations were for flights departing or arriving at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

In New York City, crews have worked to melt over 20 million pounds of snow using "hot tubs" of hot water. The National Guard has joined efforts to remove hazardous snow and ice from schools in the city. The Guard is also on standby in 15 states to help communities recover from the storm.

The cold snap is expected to continue into next week, with temperatures remaining below freezing across much of the region. Experts warn that the prolonged exposure to extreme cold poses a significant threat to public health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children.
 
🌨️ This winter storm has been absolutely brutal! I mean, 102k homes without power is just crazy 🀯. And it's not just the weather itself, but also how it's affecting people - hypothermia, frostbite... vulnerable populations are really going to need help here πŸš‘. The iguanas falling over everywhere in Florida is just too funny πŸ˜‚. But seriously, this storm has caused so much disruption and hardship for so many people. It's not just the snow and power outages, but also the transportation issues and now they're saying it could affect public health... it's like we didn't learn from any of these extreme weather events before πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ.
 
I don’t usually comment but I gotta say, this storm is straight up crazy! Like, I live in the States and we're used to some harsh winters, but this one's on another level. I mean, 102k homes and businesses without power? That's like, a lot of people stuck in the dark 😩. And it's not just the power outages that are worrying, it's the whole hypothermia and frostbite thing. I feel bad for those iguanas, they must be shivering! 🦎 But seriously, the National Guard showing up to help with snow removal and stuff? That's like, a game-changer. And I'm not gonna lie, I kinda love the hot tubs of hot water idea, it's just so... creative? πŸ’§ Anyway, gotta stay safe out there, folks! ❄️
 
I don’t usually comment but I feel so bad for all those people stuck in the dark without power... 102k homes & businesses are still out, that's insane 🀯🚨. And it’s not just the lack of electricity that’s a problem, it’s the extreme cold too - hypothermia and frostbite are super serious concerns πŸ₯ΆπŸ˜·. I mean, who needs hot tubs to melt snow, right? πŸ˜‚ But seriously, I hope everyone stays warm and safe until the power comes back on πŸ’‘πŸ . The National Guard is doing a great job helping out, that’s awesome πŸ™Œ.
 
man this storm is like a harsh reminder of how fragile life can be 🌨️, one minute we're enjoying some warmth and sunshine, next thing we know it's like -20Β°C in the Southeast πŸ˜“, I'm thinking about all those people who are struggling to stay warm without power or heat at their homes, it's just not right ❄️. and have you seen those iguanas just chillin' on the ground? it's like they're waiting for spring to come back 🦎. but seriously, this storm is a wake-up call for us all, we need to appreciate the little things in life and be prepared for the unexpected 🌟. and I'm not sure how many of us are prepared for something like this to happen again πŸ’­.
 
Ugh, can you even imagine having to deal with this kinda weather? πŸŒ¨οΈπŸ’€ I'm literally feeling so drained just thinking about it. The layout of the article is all over the place, btw... some paragraphs are like 5 sentences long, while others are super short. It's like the writer didn't know how much info they were gonna give us, so they just kept throwing things at us 🀯. Anyway, back to the storm... I mean, I get it, winter storms are a thing, but seriously, can't we have some decent temps for once? And what's up with all these power outages? It's like the utilities couldn't keep up 😩.
 
😬 I'm so worried about all those people stuck without power for days! 🚨 My heart goes out to the families who have been without heat or hot water for this long. πŸ₯Ά How are they coping? Are there any organizations that are providing support for those in need? πŸ’– We should totally check if our local shelters and food banks can help. And what about the elderly and young kids, they're so vulnerable to hypothermia and frostbite! ❄️ My little one would never survive something like this... let's hope everyone stays safe and warm until the power comes back on! 🌟
 
Ugh, this storm has been brutal 😩 I mean, I get it, nature can be unpredictable but 20 million pounds of snow in one place? 🀯 That's just crazy! And the power outages... hundreds of thousands of people without electricity for days? It's like they're stuck in the dark ages πŸ’‘

And don't even get me started on the iguanas 🦎. I mean, I've heard of them dying off due to climate change but still... it's just so sad to see animals struggling because of human actions.

The National Guard is doing their part, I'll give 'em that πŸ™, but what about all the other people who can't afford warm clothing or shelter? It's like we're all being left behind in this cold snap πŸ₯Ά. Anyway, I just hope everyone stays safe and warm until the storm passes ❄️
 
.. what's going on with these winter storms?! 🀯 I remember when we used to get snow and it was all excitement, now it's like a major disaster 🌨️! Over 100k homes without power? That's crazy 😡! And iguanas just chillin' on the ground because of the cold... that's wild 🦎. I'm glad they're getting help from the National Guard in NC and TN, but seriously, how are people supposed to cope with this kind of weather for days? ❄️ I remember back in '98 (yeah, I'm old πŸ˜…) when we had a major snowstorm and it was a big deal. Now it's just business as usual... or should I say, not so much πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ!
 
Ugh, this storm is KILLING me!! I was so hoping to go ice skating at Rockefeller Center next week but now it's looking like the rink might not even be open lol 🀣 my fave team, the Buffalo Bills, had their game postponed too - no chill vibes for them either πŸ˜‚ anyway, back to the storm - like seriously, how can it still be so cold in Florida?! Iguanas just chillin' on the ground because of the 20s temps? Brrr, I need a hot cuppa coffee and some Netflix ASAP πŸ΅πŸ“Ί
 
I don’t usually comment but... I feel so bad for all those people who are still without power and struggling to stay warm. Like, can you even imagine not having heat or electricity for days? It's crazy! And it's not just about being cold, it's also about the safety risks of hypothermia and frostbite. I mean, I know some states have National Guard troops helping out, which is awesome, but there are still so many people who need support.

And Florida is literally a snow-covered beach? That's wild! I'm glad they're taking care of the iguanas, though πŸ˜‚. But seriously, this storm has brought so much disruption to everyone's lives, and it's going to take a while for things to get back to normal. I just hope everyone stays safe and warm until then 🀞
 
Oh my gosh, I'm so worried about all those families who are still without power πŸ€•πŸ”‹. My kids would be freezing in that situation! We had a similar experience with our roof leaking during a storm last year, it was traumatic for them... I can only imagine how scary it must be to have no electricity or heat for days on end β„οΈβ˜ƒοΈ. And poor iguanas, I hope they're okay 🐒🀞. The good news is that the National Guard is there to help and all those hot tubs of water in NYC are genius (who knew that was a thing?!) β˜•οΈπŸ’¦. We should really be checking on our neighbors, especially the elderly and young children, to make sure they're okay πŸ€—πŸ‘΅. This storm has been a nightmare, but I'm so grateful for all the helpers out there πŸ’–πŸŒŸ.
 
omg 102k homes still without power 😱 that's crazy! i feel so bad for those people who are stuck in the dark πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ. snow in florida? like, what's next? 🌨️ iguanas just chillin on the ground πŸ¦ŽπŸ˜‚. and can u believe ppl have been without electricity 4 days already?! that's a long time πŸ’”. and the flight cancellations? yikes! gotta feel for all those people who got stranded πŸ›«οΈπŸ’Ί. nyc crews melting snow with hot tubs 🚿🌊? genius! but also kinda sad they have to do that πŸ€•. anyhoo, hope everyone stays safe & warm πŸ”₯⚠️
 
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