A large area of the US, stretching from Texas to Tennessee, is bracing for freezing rain and snow as the polar vortex brings harsh winter weather to various parts of the country. Meanwhile, other areas affected by the frigid air hit by the vortex this week are starting to recover from the icy conditions.
Arkansas’ capital, Little Rock, has closed schools for Thursday and Friday in preparation for the storm, which could dump heavy snow on the region starting Thursday. Kansas City-area classes were canceled for a third consecutive day, and Virginia’s capital, Richmond, is under a weather-related water boil advisory till at least Friday.
In some areas, the frigid air coincided with rare January wildfires in the Los Angeles area, forcing residents to flee from burning homes through flames, ferocious winds, and towering clouds of smoke.
A mix of sleet, snow, and freezing rain is expected to fall on a stretch of the US from New Mexico to Alabama, with the heaviest amounts anticipated in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas, according to the National Weather Service. In the southernmost locations, the snow could turn into sleet and freezing rain, which may cause hazardous driving conditions.
The system is expected to push northeastward by Friday, with a mix of heavy snow and freezing rain forecast from southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas to the Virginia and North Carolina coasts.
Associated Press photos show people enjoying winter weather, such as a bearded Collie playing in the snow in Philadelphia and a child catching snowflakes with their tongue at a parade in New York. However, the cold snap has also led to travel dangers and delays, with over 50,000 customers without power and over 2,000 flights delayed or canceled.
In other areas, the weather has caused issues, including a boil-water order in Virginia’s capital, Richmond, due to a malfunctioned water reservoir system, and over 5,000 flights delayed or canceled. Hundreds of car accidents were also reported, with three fatalities in Virginia, Kansas, and North Carolina.
Farmers and ranchers in the Midwest are struggling with the cold, with some areas receiving nearly a year’s average of snow, causing concerns for the health of their livestock and the ability to reach herds with food and water. In Florida, growers are worried about the impact on ferns, which are used for floral arrangements, ahead of Valentine’s Day.