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Historic deep freeze to hit US north-east as ice storm subsides in south Deep freeze: US north-east braces for record breaking wind chills
(about 16 hours later)
Hundreds of traffic accidents were reported across Texas during the storm Watch: Fire crews battle flames in frigid temperatures
A record-breaking deep freeze is heading for the north-eastern US as a swathe of the country's south remained without power after a deadly ice storm. Watch: Fire crews battle flames in frigid temperatures
The frigid blast could bring "once-in-a-generation" wind chills that cause frostbite in less than 10 minutes, the National Weather Service warned. Nearly 100 million people in Canada and the US brace for some of the coldest air on earth, as a record-breaking deep freeze hits North America.
Residents from Pennsylvania to Maine are being urged to limit their time outdoors through Friday and Saturday. The frigid blast could bring "once-in-a-generation" wind chills that cause frostbite in less than 10 minutes, the National Weather Service has warned.
At least 10 people have died in the bad weather in the US south since Monday. Residents from Manitoba to Maine are being urged to limit their time outdoors through Friday and Saturday.
There were seven fatalities in Texas, two in Oklahoma and one in Arkansas. At least 11 people have died in the bad weather in the US south since Monday.
Boston, which is anticipating sub-zero wind chills, is currently under a cold emergency. There were eight fatalities in Texas, two in Oklahoma and one in Arkansas.
Temperatures in New York City and other major cities are also expected to bottom out in the single digits (Fahrenheit, around -13C to -17C) by Saturday, although forecasters predict they will rebound by the end of the weekend. The expected drop in temperatures is attributed to a powerful Arctic front that stretches from the Canadian maritime provinces to the core of the US.
More than 480,000 people were without power as of Thursday evening in Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi, according to poweroutage.us. About a dozen records are expected to be broken by Friday afternoon in several US states, where a total of 82 million people will face temperatures of -17 Celsius (0 F) or lower.
The ice storm in the region has forced US airlines to cancel thousands of flights, with airports in Dallas and Austin being the most affected. In Maine, for example, parts of the state are expecting the lowest temperatures recorded since 1971. In the city of Portland, wind chill is expected to reach -41 F (-40.5 C).
By Thursday afternoon, temperatures in parts of Texas hit hard by the storm had climbed above freezing, and ice was expected to melt by Friday as temperatures keep rising. In nearby Burlington, Vermont, Friday's highest temperature is expected to reach just -20 C (-5 F).
Emergency crews in Texas have responded to hundreds of collision calls since Monday, some of which have been fatal. Three men were killed in a crash near Brownfield, south-west of the Texas city of Lubbock, according to the state's Department of Public Safety. Boston, which is anticipating sub-zero wind chills, is currently under a cold emergency. Public schools have been closed in the city, as well as in nearby Worcester.
One person in Austin was killed in a car pileup on Tuesday, local authorities said. A 45-year-old man died on Monday in Arlington after his SUV slid into a highway guardrail, while a student died in a rollover crash in Wolfforth, according to local outlet KCBD. Temperatures in New York City and other major cities are also expected to bottom out in the single digits (Fahrenheit, around -13 C to -17 C) by Saturday, although forecasters predict they will rebound by the end of the weekend.
A 49-year-old woman was killed while driving on an icy road north of Eldorado, Texas officials told CNN. Parts of Canada are expecting temperatures anywhere between -38 C to - 50 C (-36.4 F to -58 F). An extreme cold advisory issued by Environment Canada on Friday morning has blanketed the Maritimes, most of Quebec and all of Ontario, spilling into Manitoba.
In Ottawa, Canada's capital city, the extreme cold has forced the closure of a local ski hills and outdoor ice skating trails. In Toronto, the wind chill plunged the temperature to - 29 C (-20 F) on Friday.
The brutal winter weather follows this week's deadly ice storm in parts of Texas, where temperatures have begun to climb above freezing, and ice was expected to melt on Friday.
More than 309,000 people were still without power as of Friday morning in Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi, according to poweroutage.us.
Emergency crews in Texas have responded to hundreds of collision calls due to icy road conditions since Monday, some of which have been fatal.
In the neighbouring state of Oklahoma, in Custer County, a 35-year-old driver was killed on Thursday morning in a six-car pileup on icy roads, Oklahoma Highway Patrol said, according to local media outlets.In the neighbouring state of Oklahoma, in Custer County, a 35-year-old driver was killed on Thursday morning in a six-car pileup on icy roads, Oklahoma Highway Patrol said, according to local media outlets.
Dallas Police Department asked people to make sure their tyres are inflated, to slow down on icy roads and to avoid using cruise control. Dallas Police Department have asked people to make sure their tyres are inflated, to slow down on icy roads and to avoid using cruise control.