The winter storm, which experts call a bomb cyclone, left at least three dead overnight on Friday. The storm, which is expected to last until early next week, brought strong winds and high snowfall from the Rocky Mountains and Northern Plains to the Midwest.
1/12/24 4 PM CST
Here are the latest Key Messages for the ongoing major winter storm that will continue to impact portions of the Midwest and the eastern U.S. into the weekend. pic.twitter.com/6biF801h2b— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 12, 2024
As highlighted by NBC, warnings for strong winds affected some 120 million people while another 48 million were under alert after the arrival of a major winter storm. 5 million people were at risk due to heavy snowfall. One such example was Des Moines, Iowa, where the snow caused several candidates to cancel their campaign events just days before the Republican presidential primaries begin.
Low temperatures are also concerning. According to the National Weather Service, a temperature of -43º Fahrenheit was recorded throughout Friday in an area located four miles from Raynesford, Montana. These temperatures could persist throughout the weekend. The National Weather Service warns that temperatures between -20 and -40 degrees Fahrenheit are expected in the northern plains on Saturday morning.
National High/Low temps for Friday January 12, 2024: 89 at Pompano Beach, FL; -43 at 4 miles west-northwest of Raynesford, MT #flwx #mtwx https://t.co/b9vl7CRDVJ
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 13, 2024
One death in Idaho avalanche
The winter storm also left at least three people dead. The first person killed was a man who died in an avalanche in Idaho. Corey J. Zalewski was near Steven's Peak on Friday afternoon with two other men when they were trapped by a sudden avalanche.
The two friends who accompanied him managed to survive and were rescued by the authorities. However, Zalewski didn’t make it and his body was recovered Friday afternoon by rescuers, according to the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office:
Minnesota and Wisconsin report two weather-related deaths
Idaho was not the only state to mourn the death of a person. In Minnesota, the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office reported the death of an 80-year-old man. According to authorities, a person called 911 when he saw a truck crash into the ice that formed on a local lake.
That person found an adult man in the water with a life preserver and was able to recover his body and move it to shore. However, he was declared dead upon arriving at the hospital. The man was later identified as Richard Francis Gadbois, a resident of Isle, Minnesota.
The county sheriff, Kyle Burton, issued a statement which the Duluth News Tribune accessed saying that Francis' death was another example of how dangerous it is to venture onto the road during a storm like this: "This is another reminder to the public that ice conditions are not safe for driving cars and trucks on right now. The ice on many lakes across the state is not good clear ice due to rains and warm temperatures," he said.
A 69-year-old man died in Wisconsin. Authorities found the man's lifeless body after he went out to clear his driveway with a snowplow in Franklin. Although no autopsy will be performed, the Milwaukee medical examiner's office said it will investigate the incident as a weather-related death.
Arkansas and Louisiana declare a state of emergency due to the winter storm
The bad weather has had severe consequences and states such as Arkansas and Louisiana declared a state of emergency this Friday. Freezing temperatures are expected in both due to the winter storm.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders assured that declaring a state of emergency would allow resources to be allocated to prepare for the arrival of the storm that could leave temperatures below zero in the state.
Ahead of expected severe winter weather in Arkansas, I’ve declared a state of emergency and signed an executive order that waives federal regulations restricting hours of service for utility trucks and trucks hauling essential items. Please stay up to date with your local… https://t.co/9fQGXMKKf5
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) January 13, 2024
The winter storm won't reach Louisiana until Sunday. However, Republican Governor Jeff Landry told Fox News 8 that he preferred to declare a state of emergency from Friday until Wednesday, January 17 in order to ensure that the necessary resources are available to citizens:
We are encouraging everyone to prepare for these conditions and heed the advice of your local officials. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) stands ready to support our local emergency partners with any resources needed beyond their capabilities. Road crews are on standby in an attempt to keep our roads open.
The situation has not improved in other states of the country. As reported by the Poweroutage.us website at 4:24 am (EST), Michigan and Wisconsin are experiencing major problems with their power supply. Customers in Ohio, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York also reported problems with their power grid.
