Snowstorms are definitely not anything new for certain parts of the United States. If you live in the Northeast or Midwest, you probably have plenty of stories about trudging to school through feet of snow or spending an hour trying to de-ice your car before you could travel anywhere. But if you’re from Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, or Oklahoma, you’re probably not as familiar with being snowed in.
The BBC reports that the current storms pummeling the United States have left at least 800,000 people without power. Hundreds of schools have closed, and over 11,000 flights have been canceled due to severe weather conditions. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says this is the coldest winter storm the city has experienced in years, and New York is far from the only state to be affected.
A bit of light snow might be fun if it means you can build a snowman or stay home from school. But the storms in the U.S. right now are fatal and tragic. The Guardian reports that at least 30 people have already lost their lives due to the extreme cold and dangerous conditions. And over 200 million people from Texas to New England have been under cold alerts.
Over the weekend, Massachusetts experienced 20 inches (51cm) of snowfall, and parts of Pennsylvania reported receiving 23 inches. And the country might not even be through the worst of the storms yet, as the National Weather Service predicted that there may be another intense storm coming this weekend.
If you’re from Northern Europe or a state that’s used to receiving piles of snow every year, you might assume that Americans are exaggerating how terrible the conditions are. But the reality is that many of these states aren’t used to experiencing this extreme weather, and they’re simply not prepared to handle it.
AccuWeather estimates that this current storm could cost the United States economy a whopping $100 billion. Currently, the most expensive winter storm in the history of the nation was the one that hit Texas in 2021, which cost the country $26 billion.
Historically, Texas has been known to have an almost non-existent winter. Growing up there, I can count on one hand the number of times during my childhood when we had freezing temperatures and a minuscule amount of snow or ice on the roads. But climate change is making these winter storms more and more common in Southern states. And unfortunately, this probably won’t be the last severe storm to hit the Southern United States.
If you’re currently in a part of the United States that’s been impacted by these winter storms, we are thinking of you, pandas. We hope that you’re safe and sound and that you don’t lose power or water. But if you need some tips on how to get through these challenging times, FEMA recommends staying inside as much as possible. And if you have to go out, bundle up properly. Cover your face, ears, hands, and feet, and watch out for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
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Meanwhile, if you have to venture outside into the storm, use extreme caution. The roads will be very slippery, and if you have to shovel snow, be sure to pace yourself. FEMA warns that overexerting yourself in the cold could even cause a heart attack. Don’t drive unless you absolutely must, and if you do, drive very slowly. Don’t take any risks, plan your route wisely, and keep emergency supplies in your vehicle, just in case.
