A deadly Arctic storm has killed at least 30 people across the US, cutting power to over 540,000 homes and disrupting thousands of flights.
NEW YORK: More than half a million Americans were without power as a monster winter storm killed at least 30 people across the country.
A frigid, life-threatening Arctic air mass hampered recovery efforts from New Mexico to Maine following heavy snow, wind, and freezing rain.
The National Weather Service warned much of the northern US will see temperatures “continuously below freezing through February 1.”
Record low temperatures also hit southern states unaccustomed to such intense winter weather.
Parts of Connecticut saw over 22 inches of snow, with more than 16 inches recorded in Boston.
The storm was linked to at least 30 deaths from causes including hypothermia and accidents.
Seven people died when a small plane crashed while taking off in a snowstorm in Bangor, Maine.
One man in New Jersey was found unresponsive in the snow with a shovel in his hand.
Eight more people were found dead in New York City amid plummeting temperatures.
Over 540,000 customers remained without electricity on Tuesday morning, especially in Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
More than 9,000 flights were disrupted as the storm paralyzed transportation nationwide.
“We don’t know if we are going to make it or not. We’ve been here since Sunday,” said traveler Alan Vazquez at Dallas-Fort Worth airport.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said trees continued to fall under encrusted ice, sometimes knocking out restored power.
Municipalities across the country were establishing emergency warming shelters.
NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli said recovery was arduous as many states were impacted simultaneously.
“A lot of those locations don’t have the means or the resources to clean up after these events,” she said.
The storm system resulted from a stretched polar vortex sending cold air across North America.
Scientists say the increasing frequency of such disruptions may be linked to climate change.
NWS meteorologist Dave Radell said the storm’s “very dry” and “fluffy” snow was easily lashed by wind, impeding cleanup.
“That makes it even more challenging,” he said.
