A Bomb Cyclone Brings Frigid Temperatures and Snow to Millions Across the US
A powerful bomb cyclone has left millions of Americans shivering under freezing temperatures, blanketing parts of the country with snow, and disrupting daily life. The intense low-pressure system, which brought record-low temperatures to southern Florida, also resulted in thousands of flight cancellations and at least two fatalities in North Carolina.
Approximately 150 million people are currently under cold-weather advisories or extreme cold warnings across the eastern United States, with wind chills ranging from near zero to single digits. Meteorologist Peter Mullinax describes this phenomenon as an "intense, rapidly strengthening weather system" that has led to significant snowfall in North Carolina and record-breaking temperatures in Florida.
The city of Charlotte, North Carolina's largest metropolis, received nearly a foot of snow, marking the top-five snow event in its history. At least two people lost their lives due to accidents on snowy roads across the state over the weekend. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein attributed these fatalities to the hazardous driving conditions and warned that more road-related incidents may occur.
The frigid air also led to flight cancellations exceeding 2,800 nationwide, with over 1,800 additional cancellations reported on Sunday alone. Charlotte Douglas International Airport was particularly hard hit, with nearly 800 cancellations due to the winter weather.
In southern Florida, temperatures plummeted to as low as the 20s Fahrenheit in some areas and the 30s in others. This brought snow flurries to Tampa and broke records for the lowest temperature in Daytona Beach (23°F) and Vero Beach (26°F). Miami saw its coldest morning since 2010 at a chilly 35°F.
Perhaps most concerning, however, was the effect on Florida's native wildlife. Iguanas, an invasive species in the state, became "cold-stunned" due to the prolonged cold weather, causing them to fall from trees. In response, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order asking residents to bring any found iguanas to a designated drop-off location.
Farmers in Florida also faced challenges, with water needed for spraying on fruit trees and berry plants to protect them from the cold. Temperatures this weekend were the lowest recorded since 2010, 1989, 1977, and 1966, according to AccuWeather. The low-lying areas experienced widespread power outages, with tens of thousands left without electricity.
Further north in North Carolina, a foot or more of snow covered parts of the state. The National Weather Service reported totals exceeding this mark, with winter weather-related fatalities now totaling over 110 nationwide since late January.
A powerful bomb cyclone has left millions of Americans shivering under freezing temperatures, blanketing parts of the country with snow, and disrupting daily life. The intense low-pressure system, which brought record-low temperatures to southern Florida, also resulted in thousands of flight cancellations and at least two fatalities in North Carolina.
Approximately 150 million people are currently under cold-weather advisories or extreme cold warnings across the eastern United States, with wind chills ranging from near zero to single digits. Meteorologist Peter Mullinax describes this phenomenon as an "intense, rapidly strengthening weather system" that has led to significant snowfall in North Carolina and record-breaking temperatures in Florida.
The city of Charlotte, North Carolina's largest metropolis, received nearly a foot of snow, marking the top-five snow event in its history. At least two people lost their lives due to accidents on snowy roads across the state over the weekend. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein attributed these fatalities to the hazardous driving conditions and warned that more road-related incidents may occur.
The frigid air also led to flight cancellations exceeding 2,800 nationwide, with over 1,800 additional cancellations reported on Sunday alone. Charlotte Douglas International Airport was particularly hard hit, with nearly 800 cancellations due to the winter weather.
In southern Florida, temperatures plummeted to as low as the 20s Fahrenheit in some areas and the 30s in others. This brought snow flurries to Tampa and broke records for the lowest temperature in Daytona Beach (23°F) and Vero Beach (26°F). Miami saw its coldest morning since 2010 at a chilly 35°F.
Perhaps most concerning, however, was the effect on Florida's native wildlife. Iguanas, an invasive species in the state, became "cold-stunned" due to the prolonged cold weather, causing them to fall from trees. In response, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order asking residents to bring any found iguanas to a designated drop-off location.
Farmers in Florida also faced challenges, with water needed for spraying on fruit trees and berry plants to protect them from the cold. Temperatures this weekend were the lowest recorded since 2010, 1989, 1977, and 1966, according to AccuWeather. The low-lying areas experienced widespread power outages, with tens of thousands left without electricity.
Further north in North Carolina, a foot or more of snow covered parts of the state. The National Weather Service reported totals exceeding this mark, with winter weather-related fatalities now totaling over 110 nationwide since late January.
. First, it's freezing temps and snow, then you've got flights getting cancelled left and right... like what's the point? Can't they just make up their minds about this weather stuff? And don't even get me started on the iguanas - cold-stunned? What a thing 
. And have you seen those temps in southern Florida? Like, 20s Fahrenheit? That's crazy! They should at least give people some warning before it gets that bad 
. And what about all the power outages? Tens of thousands left without electricity... that's just a pain 
. Can't they just get their act together and make sure everything is ready for this kind of weather? 
I've got my sources telling me that there's more to this bomb cyclone than meets the eye. Apparently, it was supposed to hit earlier in the week but some last-minute changes in the track allowed for evacuations and preparations to be put in place. Not to mention, some of the scientists are saying that this could be a sign of things to come - like more extreme weather events in the future 
. I'm not saying it's confirmation or anything, but... let's just say I've got my ear to the ground on this one 
especially Florida's native wildlife is like woah iguanas falling from trees?! 
and the farmers are struggling too...water for their crops is like super hard to come by right now 
and farmers are struggling to keep their fruit and berry plants alive 
️ the power outages are no joke too - tens of thousands without electricity? that's just ridiculous 
at least it's not as bad as some other states, right? but still gotta give props to the meteorologists like peter mullinax who help us stay informed about these crazy weather systems 
Just saw that record low temps hit southern Florida! 
20s Fahrenheit is COLD 
. Did you know that only about 10% of the US population has access to heat pumps? 
This cold snap highlights the need for more affordable and accessible heating solutions, especially in low-income households 
️.
️ It brought a whopping $150 million worth of snow removal costs across the US! 
And that's just from North Carolina alone. Flight cancellations were crazy too - 2,800+ 
️. But did you know that every hour the temperature stays below 25°F, the chances of hypothermia increase by 75%? 
According to the CDC, over 20,000 people died from cold-related illnesses in the US between 2010 and 2020 
. We need to be better prepared for these events! 
Anyway, 150 million people under cold-weather advisories is a lot, I guess. I mean, who hasn't heard of wind chills going below zero before, though? It's not like it's some sort of record-breaking phenomenon or anything.
And I'm no expert, but it seems like a lot of people lost their power because of the cold weather... like, what's up with that?
... like what's up with Alexa she never seems to understand me 
... I don't think I could handle living in a place where it snows every week 
...
just can't believe the crazy weather we're seeing across the US rn. 150 million people under cold-weather advisories? that's insane! 
. hope everyone stays warm & safe out there! 
. And can we talk about how farmers are struggling to protect their crops? It's like the weather is just one big, crazy puzzle that nobody can solve 
Maybe then we could enjoy our winter activities without worrying about freezing our tails off or having iguanas take a tumble from the trees 
. that's the real magic, bro 
This bomb cyclone is just another reminder that nature can be so unforgiving. I'm sending love and warmth to everyone who's been affected by the freezing temps and snow across the US 
. It's heartbreaking to think about those thousands of flight cancellations, especially with families trying to travel for holidays or reunions 
. Let's be kind to those iguanas and help care for them until the weather warms up again 
.
. And 2,800+ flight cancellations? That's a lot of people stuck in the airport 
. Some parts of Canada and Europe are experiencing similar cold snaps too 
. Guess we're all in this together! 
. Just another excuse for airlines to cancel flights and sell more vacation packages to people stuck at home 
. And the whole thing is just a PR stunt for the weather service to get more attention and funding 
.