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By Hollie Silverman
News Editor
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Dozens of people have died in multiple states after two powerful winter storms swept the country within a weeks' time, bringing frigid temperatures, widespread power outages and treacherous ice from Texas to the Carolinas.
Three deaths were reported across Mississippi and Kentucky on Sunday, according to the governors of each state, bringing the total up to 88 from the 85 reported by the Associated Press (AP) Friday. The deaths stretch across Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas and New York City.
The first storm swept the Northeast from January 24 to 26 and a new system brought snow to parts of the South on Saturday, as forecasters warned of another Arctic blast gripping the eastern United States in the coming days.
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The Context
The dual punch of a Northeast winter storm followed by Southern snowfall and ice underscored how dangerous cold, power failures and carbon monoxide risks compounded the death toll across several states.
Public health officials reported fatalities from hypothermia, suspected carbon monoxide poisoning and weather-related accidents, highlighting the risks that escalate as outages linger and cold snaps persist through the weekend.
What To Know
The January 24-26 system delivered widespread snow across the Northeast and Great Lakes, with the National Weather Service (NWS) documenting heavy accumulations and lake-enhanced bands, including localized totals near 10 inches in parts of the Chicago metro and northwest Indiana.
A subsequent round of winter weather brought snow and blizzard-like conditions to parts of the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee this weekend, while hundreds of thousands of utility customers in Southern states faced prolonged outages earlier in the week.
Officials across several states reported increasing numbers of weather-related deaths on Sunday. However, some deaths are still being tallied from last weekend's winter storm, complicating efforts to attribute an exact count to each event.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said there were two additional deaths to report in Panola County following Saturday's storm, bringing the total to 23 fatalities. Meanwhile, 15 people have died in Kentucky due to winter weather, following the death of a 66-year-old man in Daviess County, Governor Andy Beshear said in a post on X Sunday.
Officials with Tennessee Emergency Management (TEMA) reported an additional death due to the winter storm on Sunday, bringing the total to at least five across the state. The other four deaths were confirmed by Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, local outlet WSMV reported.
New York City officials confirmed 13 deaths over the past week attributed to cold weather, ABC 7 reported.
Further south, a total of six people have died of weather-related circumstances, officials said, with the South Carolina Department of Public Health reporting two additional deaths on Sunday.
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What People Are Saying
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves wrote in a post on X on Sunday: "Tragically, two deaths have been reported in Panola County. This brings the total number of fatalities to 23. Please pray for the family and friends of those lost."
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear wrote in a post on X Saturday: “Kentucky, we continue to need your prayers, as our fatalities have now risen to 15. Let’s wrap our arms around these families during this difficult time.”
New York City Hall said in a statement Friday, as reported by ABC7: “We can confirm there have been 13 outdoor deaths since the start of the snow storm and this stretch of life-threatening cold weather.”
What Happens Next
Forecasters expected another surge of Arctic air to reinforce dangerous wind chills across the eastern half of the country, with heavy snow and strong winds forecast from the southern Appalachians through the Carolinas into southern Virginia, the NWS said.
There is also potential for coastal flooding and storm-force winds along parts of the East Coast.
Officials said power restoration and death investigations would continue in hard-hit Southern states as the cold weather persists.
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