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By Tom Howarth
Science Reporter (Nature)
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A powerful winter storm plunged more than 300,000 people across Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia into darkness on Monday.
Heavy snowfall, ice accumulation and strong winds have battered the eastern United States, knocking out power to homes and businesses. Virginia has been the hardest hit, with over 114,000 customers without power. Other states are also grappling with widespread outages: 79,000 in Kentucky, 52,000 in West Virginia, 35,700 in Illinois and 32,100 in Missouri.
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Why It Matters
The storm's impact extends beyond inconvenience. Prolonged power outages in frigid temperatures can pose life-threatening risks. Residents face the possibility of frozen pipes and dangerously low temperatures, prompting concerns about heating demands and safety.
Forecasters warn that the winter storm, dubbed Blair, will continue to unleash snow, ice and gusty winds as it moves toward the mid-Atlantic coast, with more cold weather to follow.
What to Know
Blair has brought treacherous conditions that have downed power lines for hundreds of thousands of people. Heavy ice accumulation is adding significant weight to power lines and trees, causing widespread damage and outages. Some areas are seeing up to half an inch or more of ice accumulation, with added weight from snow and strong winds exacerbating the problem.
A second storm later in the week could hinder recovery efforts, with continued risks of severe weather on the Gulf Coast and icy conditions in the Midwest and Southeast.
What People Are Saying
Appalachian Power, which serves parts of West Virginia and Virginia, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): "Winter Storm Blair has left behind treacherous road conditions, downed power lines and fallen trees in most of our service territory."
In its latest update on its website, the company said: "In a major power outage, priority is given to restoring circuits that deliver electricity to essential public safety facilities such as hospitals, 911 call centers, water treatment plants, and police and fire stations. Next, Appalachian Power will perform repairs to restore electric service to the largest pockets of customers in the shortest amount of time."
In response to a question from Newsweek in a media briefing, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva told journalists: "If you see half an inch of ice, you can be adding up to 500 pounds of additional weight onto those power lines. Some areas got additional snow on top of that. And then you bring wind, and I think that is what caused some of the power outages in this corridor."
DaSilva stressed that conditions could be "extremely dangerous" for those without power and urged residents in affected areas to check up on their neighbors.
What Happens Next
Thousands of utility companies' personnel are trying to restore power across the region, but the worst may not be over. Cold temperatures are expected to last until at least January 12, with widespread temperatures 12 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit below typical early-January values, according to AccuWeather.
Crews will be working around the clock, but icy roads and downed trees are slowing progress. Appalachian Power has warned drivers to exercise caution when traveling, as vehicle accidents can be "a major cause of power outages."
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the winter storm? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
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