The relentless winter storms that have battered much of the United States for the past ten days have resulted in the loss of at least 75 lives, according to officials.
As of Monday, approximately 57 million people woke up to winter weather alerts, with freezing rain impacting the Midwest and the South, particularly affecting residents in eastern Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas.
The forecast indicates that freezing rain will persist in parts of the Midwest and the southern Great Lakes on Tuesday, accompanied by storms generating periods of rain or snow before moving into Canada. Another round of freezing rain is anticipated to sweep across the central Plains and the Great Lakes regions on Wednesday.
The hazardous winter conditions have directly contributed to a minimum of 72 deaths since January 12, attributed to rain, ice, and snow, as reported by local officials. Tennessee has borne a significant brunt, with at least 30 deaths occurring in the state. Preliminary attributions suggest that many of these deaths are linked to hypothermia and car accidents.
In response to the perilous conditions, public schools in Nashville and Memphis remained closed on Monday, and officials continued to implore residents in Tennessee to avoid venturing onto dangerous, ice-covered roads.
