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The US is bracing for more deaths from the “blizzard of the century” that has killed 57 people so far, latest updates, Thousands of airline passengers stranded across the country, plus weather alerts and the 3-day forecast.
Here are Tuesday’s weather alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS).
Winter storm warning: northeastern and eastern California; central and southeastern Idaho; northwestern and southwestern Montana; western Wyoming; northwestern Nevada; southwestern Colorado; southeastern Utah; north-central Arizona; north-central and northwestern New Mexico; western and north-central New York.
Winter weather advisory for portions of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and New York.
High wind warning for portions of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Flood warning for northwestern, western, and Central California; northwestern Washington.
Flood advisory: western California; western and eastern Washington; western Oregon; northern Idaho.
At least 57 people have died in a winter storm that’s been dubbed “the blizzard of the century” that was still producing “extremely heavy snow” on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said, NBC reported.
At least 28 of the deaths occurred in Western New York, with 18 of those in Buffalo, the Associated Press reported, as authorities continue to hunt for vehicles buried in snow drifts.
Huge snow drifts have caused power outages that have left many residents trapped in their homes without heat or food.
“Lingering lake-effect snows downwind from Great Lakes will become less intense and fade on Tuesday,” the National Weather Service said. The storm is expected to gradually improve over the week, according to forecasters, and the East will be mostly snowfall-free by Thursday, with the exception of Maine. However, the NWS added a warning of flooding from melting snow as temperatures rise.
On Monday, Southwestern Airlines canceled 2,886 flights, roughly 70% of its scheduled flights amid treacherous winter weather and impacting flights across the country, leaving thousands of travelers stranded.
The US Department of Transportation is investigating, FOXBusiness reported.
“USDOT is concerned by Southwest Airlines’ disproportionate and unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays, as well as the failure to properly support customers experiencing a cancellation or delay,” the USDOT said in a statement. “As more information becomes available, the department will closely examine whether cancellations were controllable and whether Southwest is complying with its customer service plan, as well as all other pertinent DOT rules.”
More heavy snow, freezing rain, and potential flash flooding over the next several days. Here is the latest 3-day forecast from the National Weather Service (NWS).
A wintry mix across the northern tier will stretch from Washington to the Great Lakes with the possibility of freezing rain over parts of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and northern Michigan.
Snow for parts of northern Minnesota and Michigan, as well as over the northern regions of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
In the West, heavy rain with the potential of flash flooding will run nearly the length of California’s western edge. Heavy snow along the Sierra and eastern Nevada border, as well as heavy rain with potential flooding. Heavy snow for Northern California, Western Washington, Western Oregon, Idaho, Western Montana, Western Wyoming, Central Utah, Western Colorado, and Northwestern Nevada. Rain throughout California, rain with a wintry mix over most of the Western states.
Snow over most of the Western states. A wintry mix could bring freezing rain to parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
In the East, snow over the northern regions of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Thunderstorms in the South over parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri.
Snow over most of the Western states. Heavy rain with potential flash flooding over northern and northwestern California.
In the Midwest, a wintry mix with potential freezing rain over Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Snow for parts of South Dakota and Nebraska.
Thunderstorms over the South, with heavy rain bringing the possibility of flash flooding along the Gulf and into portions of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
Rain for the Ohio Valley and Michigan.
Snow for northern Maine.
