State of Emergency declared in Mississippi, as winter blast hammers much of the nation

Subfreezing temperatures across much of the U.S. left millions of Americans facing potentially dangerous cold Sunday as Arctic storms threatened near-blizzard conditions in the Northeast and several inches of snow in parts of the South.

In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves declared a State of Emergency on Sunday, with the National Weather Service forecasting freezing rain, sleet, and snow for a significant portion of the state, along with dangerous cold for the week.

“The state of Mississippi is proactively taking steps to prepare for freezing temperatures and severe winter weather,” Reeves said. “By declaring this State of Emergency, we can mobilize state assets, and better support response and recovery efforts. All Mississippians in the impacted areas are encouraged to take precautions over the next few days. Prepare your homes now for below-freezing temperatures, bring pets inside, and check in with your loved ones who are most susceptible during this frigid weather.”

Across Mississippi

North: Nearly all of Northern Mississippi is under a Winter Storm Warning through 6 a.m. Tuesday. Forecasts from the National Weather Service are calling for heavy snow accumulations, with up to 6 inches possible.

Central: The National Weather service says “a mix of wintry precipitation including sleet, snow, and freezing rain is likely across the forecast area beginning in the ArkLaMiss Delta areas Sunday night and spreading southeast through Monday and Monday night. Heavy snow is possible across far northern parts of the forecast area north of US Highway 82, with lighter accumulations of sleet, snow, or ice across the remainder of the area. Power outages will be possible, and travel is expected to become more difficult as the event unfolds.”

Coastal: Coastal Mississippi is under four severe weather alerts: a Wind Chill Advisory, a Freeze Warning, a Hard Freeze Warning and a Winter Weather Advisory for weather that is expected to arrive in the overnight hours.

Their predictions are calling for a chance of rain showers after 7 p.m., which is expected to mix with freezing rain after 3 a.m. Tuesday. Tonight’s low temperature is expected to fall to 28. degrees, with blustery conditions after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 50 percent tonight, with a “light glaze” expected.

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Across the nation

The National Weather Service warned that windy, subfreezing conditions in Montana and the Dakotas could push wind chills as low as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56 Celsius).

An estimated 95 million people were under weather warnings or advisories for wind chills below zero F (minus 17 Celsius), according to the weather service. Forecasters said the severe cold was expected to push as far south as northern Texas.

Juan Villegas wore layers of clothing beneath his heavy coat Sunday as he and roughly a dozen subcontractors with shovels cleared snow in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, where snow covered park benches and partially buried fire hydrants the day before the state’s presidential caucuses.

Working in temperatures of minus 15 degrees F (minus 26 degrees C), Villegas said the best way to feel warm was to “just keep moving.”

“If you stay doing nothing, it’s when you really feel the cold,” Villegas said.

Much of Wisconsin remained under advisories through Monday afternoon, with predicted wind chills as low as 30 degrees below zero (minus 34 Celsius).

Even parts of northern Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia could see snow. In Shreveport, Louisiana, Mary Trammel was among residents who stocked up on bottled water, food and fuel for generators ahead of subfreezing weather forecast to bring up an inch (2.5 centimeters) of snow and leave roads coated in ice.

“It’s cold out here,” said Tramel, who told KSLA-TV she bought bread and ingredients for enough soup to last days. “I can get what I need and make sure the house is stored good.”

Officials warned people to stay off the roads in Buffalo, New York, where snowfall of 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters) was forecast. The storm forced the postponement of the Buffalo Bills-Pittsburgh Steelers NFL playoff game from Sunday to Monday.

Workers with shovels and trucks worked Sunday to clear snow from the field at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Bills implored fans eager to lend a hand to hold off and await word when it will be safe to travel.

“Looks like a pretty good day to not have a football game,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, posted on X with a video clip of whiteout conditions in the western New York city.

At least one Bills player was out in the bad weather Sunday putting his newfound free time to good use. Offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark shared a video on Instagram showing fellow lineman Alec Anderson helping a motorist struggling with icy road conditions.

“Good Samaritan, Alec, helping the people,” Van Demark narrates on the brief clip posted Sunday.

Zack Taylor, a National Weather Service meteorologist in College Park, Maryland, warned some parts of the Northeast would see intense snowfall and extreme wind, with gusts up to 50 mph (89 kph) possible.

“That’s why they’re expecting to see near-blizzard conditions at times,” Taylor said.

Airports across the country were impacted. More than half of flights into and out of Buffalo Niagara International Airport were canceled. Scores of flights were also canceled or delayed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Forecasters also warned that rapid bursts of heavy snow and wind could cause drastic and sudden drops in visibility in eastern Pennsylvania and parts of northern New Jersey and Delaware. The weather service warned squalls could bring “near whiteout conditions and a quick one-half inch of snow in just 10 to 15 minutes.”

Another Arctic storm that’s dumped heavy snowfall in the Rockies was forecast to push further south, potentially bringing 4 inches to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of snow to portions of Arkansas, northern Mississippi and west Tennessee.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency in advance to give utility trucks and trucks hauling essential supplies greater flexibility to respond.

Officials in Mississippi’s capital city of Jackson were preparing for days of freezing weather after cold snaps in 2021 and 2022 caused pipes to burst and water pressure to drop across the city of 150,000.

“We feel as confident as we can that we’re prepared for whatever comes our way,” Ted Henifin, Jackson’s interim manager of Jackson’s long-troubled water system, told WAPT-TV. He said 14 crews were on standby to respond to any broken pipes.

The wild weather didn’t just bring snow and ice. Record high tides that flooded some homes in Maine and New Hampshire on Saturday also swept three historic fishing shacks into the sea from the spot where they had stood in South Portland, Maine, for more than 130 years.

“History is just being washed away,” Michelle Erskine said Sunday, a day after she captured video footage of the last two wooden shacks sliding into the ocean.

More than 162,000 homes and businesses in Oregon were without electricity Sunday following heavy snow and ice storms, according to poweroutage.us.

“We are still battling the elements, but our crews are focused on repair and restoration as the weather allows,” said Erik Brookhouse, vice president of system operations for Pacific Power. “We thank our customers for their patience and understanding as we continue this work in what can be treacherous conditions.”

The harsh weather in Oregon played a role in three deaths, according to authorities. Weather-related deaths were reported earlier in California, Idaho, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Widespread power outages affecting tens of thousands were also reported in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.