Severe weather has claimed at least nine lives across the United States, with Kentucky being hit the hardest as creeks swelled from heavy rain and roads became submerged in water. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear reported that hundreds of people had to be rescued from flooding, and President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration to aid relief efforts in the state.
Most of the fatalities in Kentucky were due to cars getting stuck in high water, including a mother and her 7-year-old child. Beshear emphasized the importance of staying off the roads during this time to prevent further casualties.
The storms in Kentucky and Tennessee brought up to 6 inches of rain, leading to swollen streams and widespread flooding. The National Weather Service warned that the effects of the storms would continue for some time.
In Alabama, an EF-1 tornado touched down in Hale County, causing damage to mobile homes and power lines. In Tennessee, a levee failure in Obion County resulted in mandatory evacuations for the residents of Rives.
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, a person was killed when a large tree fell on a home. The extreme weather conditions also brought dangerously cold temperatures to North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
Ice and snow made travel hazardous in Michigan, with numerous accidents reported around Detroit. Colorado also experienced fatal vehicle crashes, prompting authorities to urge caution on the roads.
The U.S. is bracing for the 10th and coldest polar vortex event of the season, with the northern Rockies and northern Plains expected to be the most affected. The National Weather Service issued warnings for “life-threatening cold” in the northern Plains, with temperatures plunging as low as 45 degrees below zero.
