Heavy snow and frigid Arctic blast put 70 million across US under winter storm warnings

Published

6 months ago

January 20, 2025

A worker spreads salt before a winter storm affects the area in New York's Times Square on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Much of the eastern half of the US will this week experience some of the coldest temperatures this winter, if not for several years

Tens of millions of residents along the East Coast are bracing for several inches of snow on Sunday followed by dangerously cold temperatures that will take hold in much of the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine.

Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service have already gone into effect for parts of the mid-Atlantic until Monday morning, with the forecast projecting up to half a foot (15cm) of snow. Warnings will begin in New England on Sunday afternoon, with parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut seeing as much as 10 inches (25cm) of snow.

Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park Maryland, projected that as many as 70 million residents will be under some kind of winter storm hazards warning in the coming days including in New England and the mid-Atlantic. Large cities such as Philadelphia, New York and Boston could see several inches of snow this evening with the highest totals being outside major cities.

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“There will certainly be some more hazardous road conditions anywhere from DC up the whole I-95 corridor and then inland from there later today and tonight,” Chenard said. “Then it gets quite cold behind that. By Monday morning, any roads that haven’t been treated or cleared will still likely be some hazardous travel conditions.”

But the snow is just the start of a chaotic week of weather.

Much of the eastern half of the United States will be enduring some of the coldest temperatures this winter, if not for several years.

An area from the Rockies into the Northern Plains will see colder than normal temperatures starting on Sunday into the coming week, with temperatures dropping to to minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 48 degrees Celsius) on Sunday and Monday. Wind chills of minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 degrees Celsius) were already being clocked in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota. Sub-zero wind chills are forecast to reach as far south as Oklahoma and the Tennessee Valley.

The cold weather forecast for Monday for Washington prompted US president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony to be moved inside the US Capitol Rotunda.

“It’s going to be a cold day in Washington, DC on Monday. That’s for sure,” Chenard said, noting temperatures will be in the 20s with wind gust upwards of 30mph (48km/h).

As happened earlier this month, this latest cold snap comes from a disruption in the polar vortex, the ring of cold air usually trapped about the North Pole.

The cold air will moderate as it moves southward and eastward, but the Central and Eastern US will still be cold with highs in the teens and 20s Fahrenheit on Monday into Tuesday, Chenard said.

The mid-Atlantic and Northeast also will have highs in the teens and 20s, lows in the single digits and below zero degrees Fahrenheit (minus 18 degrees Celsius) and wind chills below zero.

The colder temperatures will reach down into the South early this week, where as many as 30 million people starting on Monday could see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. The unusual conditions are expected to stretch from Texas into northern Florida and the Carolinas. Impacts are expected to start in Texas on Monday night and spread across the Gulf coast and Southeast on Tuesday into Wednesday.

A combination of frigid air with a low pressure system over the Gulf are behind the storm, which could bring heavy snow just south of the Interstate 20 corridor across northern Louisiana and into Mississippi and a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain near the Interstate 10 corridor from Houston to Mobile, Alabama.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry on Saturday issued a state of emergency in advance of the wintry weather. He encouraged residents to be prepared and to monitor the weather forecast.

Seven dead, 41 injured in Bauchi highway crash

Published

2 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

At least seven people have lost their lives in a fatal crash along the Alkaleri–Gombe Federal Highway, while 41 others sustained serious injuries.

The tragic incident was disclosed in an updated First Information Report, FIR, from the RS12.13 Alkaleri Unit Command of the Bauchi State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, made available to Ekwutosblog.

According to the report, the crash occurred around 3:00 p.m. at Kirfi Junction and involved a commercial DAF trailer. All seven deceased were adult males.

The lone crash was attributed to a mechanical fault, specifically, a structural failure in which the head of the trailer detached from its body while in motion.

A total of 48 people were involved in the incident, including 38 adult males and 10 male children. Of these, 41 sustained varying degrees of injuries, 25 adult males and 16 male children, while seven adult males died at the scene.

FRSC personnel were said to have responded to the distress call at 3:02 p.m. and arrived at the scene by 3:50 p.m., marking a 48-minute response time.

The injured were transported to the General Hospital in Alkaleri, with some later referred to the Specialist Hospital in Bauchi for advanced care. The remains of the deceased were deposited in the morgue before being handed over to their families for burial.

The rescue operation was led by DRC H.Y. Danjuma on behalf of the Unit Commander.

In the wake of the tragedy, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, paid a condolence visit to Kirfi Local Government Area on Friday. During the visit, he announced a N50 million relief package for the victims and their families.

According to the governor, each bereaved family will receive N2 million, while those still receiving treatment in hospital will be given N1 million each. Victims who have been discharged will receive N500,000 each.

He added that additional support would be provided through the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.

Governor Mohammed described the accident as deeply painful, especially given the loss of many young lives.

The governor condemned the practice of transporting over 200 people in a single truck, calling it highly irresponsible and unacceptable.

Suspected gunmen kill brother of village Imam, one other in Niger

Published

1 day ago

July 3, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Suspected bandits have attacked Kulho and Maikade villages in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, killing two residents and injuring others.

According to a post by security analyst, Bakatsine on X on Thursday, the attack happened late Wednesday night when armed men stormed the two neighbouring villages.

One of the victims was identified as Alhaji Yahaya, the brother of the Imam of Kulho village. The Imam was also injured during the attack but survived.

Another victim, Alhaji Bello Maikade, a respected community member in Maikade village, was also killed during the incident.

“Yesterday night, bandits stormed Kulho and Maikade villages in Mashegu LGA, Niger State. They killed Alhaji Yahaya, the brother of Kulho’s Imam (who was injured but survived) and also murdered Alhaji Bello Maikade,” Bakatsine wrote.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.

Sex worker dies in Ondo brothel altercation

Published

4 days ago

June 30, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested three people over the death of a commercial sex worker at a brothel in Akure.

One of the suspects had sought the services of the deceased but demanded a refund of his N15,000 following the alleged failure of the sex worker to satisfy his desire.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olayinka Ayanlade, the incident occurred at the weekend in a popular brothel in the Cathedral area of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Ayanlade stated that during a sexual activity with one of the suspects, the sex worker complained of tiredness, which infuriated the customer. This then escalated into a heated altercation between the manager of the brothel, the deceased, and the suspect, as well as friends he had invited to help retrieve the money initially paid for the services.

The police spokesperson said: “At approximately 10 am on June 29, the manager of the brothel reported to the station under the jurisdiction of A Division that there had been a violent altercation between a sex worker and a male customer earlier that morning. The disagreement began when the sex worker reportedly complained of sudden weakness during an encounter and could no longer continue providing the agreed services.

“The police acted swiftly and professionally; while the victim was being rushed to a nearby hospital in the Lafe area, officers at the scene simultaneously effected the arrest of three suspects involved in the incident. The victim was later referred to the Police Hospital in Akure but was, unfortunately, declared dead on arrival by a medical officer. Her body has since been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital morgue for autopsy.”