Mississippi: A powerful winter storm sweeping across the US has resulted in the deaths of three people in the Southern state of Mississippi and left tens of thousands without power, according to officials and local media.
According to Anadolu Agency, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed the fatalities, stating, "Tragically, a third fatality has been reported. Please pray for their family during this difficult time." Mississippi experienced significant impacts from the storm, with high winds knocking down power lines and trees.
The storm, which brought blizzard conditions to the Midwest, hurricane-force winds to Texas, tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas, and an elevated wildfire risk in the mid-Atlantic, has wreaked havoc from the central Plains to the Eastern US. In Mississippi alone, power outages affected 38,000 residents, with crews actively working to restore electricity.
In St. Louis, Missouri, strong winds left 190,000 customers without power, as reported by KMBC News. The National Weather Service issued multiple warnings as the storm progressed. In Louisiana and Mississippi, a tornado watch was in effect through Tuesday evening, resulting in the cancellation of Mardi Gras parades in Jefferson Parish and modifications to celebrations in New Orleans.
Texas also faced widespread outages, with hurricane-force winds battering the state. The weather service warned of ongoing widespread hazards, including damaging winds, blizzard conditions, severe weather, and localized flash flooding from the central to eastern US.
Nationwide, the storm's effects were felt, with high wind gusts reaching 113 kilometers per hour (70 miles per hour) across the Plains and Midwest. The weather service urged, "Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle."
In Iowa, blizzard conditions rendered travel extremely dangerous, with winds gusting up to 105 kph (65 mph). Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota activated the state's National Guard as several inches of snow fell overnight, with snow continuing in parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and the upper Midwest. Despite the subsiding snow in some areas, the weather service cautioned that blowing snow would continue to reduce visibility.
In addition to the winter hazards, parts of Texas faced an elevated wildfire risk due to high winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures. The weather service issued red flag warnings in Western Texas, highlighting an increased danger of wildfires. As tornado watches were issued for parts of the Carolinas and Virginia on the East Coast on Wednesday, the storm continues to challenge communities from coast to coast.