Millions without heat as more storms roll in

At least two dozen killed across USA; 100M people in path of more snow, ice

Winter’s brutal assault continued Wednesday as another snowstorm roared its way across the nation, hitting areas where millions were already without electricity in record- breaking cold.

More than 100 million Americans are in the path of the storm as it tracks from the southern Plains to the East Coast over the next couple of days, the National Weather Service said.

At least two dozen people have died because of the intense cold and a series of storms that moved from coast to coast since the weekend. In the Houston area, one family succumbed to carbon monoxide from car exhaust in their garage; another perished after flames spread from a fireplace.

At least 13 children were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, hospital officials said.

In Texas, more than 2.8 million homes and businesses remained without power Wednesday. Other states where power outages numbered in the tens of thousands included Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio and Oregon, according to poweroutage. us, a utility tracking site. About 3.4 million customers around the USA were without power.

Utilities from Minnesota to Texas and Mississippi implemented rolling blackouts to ease the burden on power grids straining to meet extreme demand for heat and electricity as record low temperatures were reported in city after city.

Josh Sklar, from northwest Austin, Texas, said his family lost power Thursday. After getting it back for a brief time Sunday, he said his family is again huddled together in a closet for warmth.

“We have zero confidence in ERCOT ( Electric Reliability Council of Texas) and Austin Energy caring about us or doing anything,” Sklar said.

Many residents are frustrated, including Amber Nichols of north Austin.

“We are very angry,” she said. “I was checking on my neighbor, she’s angry, too. We’re all angry because there is no reason to leave entire neighborhoods freezing to death. This is a complete bungle.”

The power grid manager did not have firm estimates Wednesday for when power would be restored for Texans, millions of whom have been without electricity in frigid temperatures since early Monday.

ERCOT President Bill Magness said he hoped many customers would see electricity at least partially restored – on a rotating basis, with outages coming in and out – by Thursday.

The next winter storm will bring

more snow and ice and “just a real mess” to many areas of the country, including the South, Midwest and Northeast, AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

As the storm advances to the northeast through Friday, snow is forecast to fall along a 2,000- mile- long swath from northwestern and north- central Texas to northern Maine, AccuWeather said. Freezing rain and sleet will occur to the south and east of the snow zone, extending from central Texas to southeastern New York state.

Ice accumulations of a quarter to as much as three- quarters of an inch are forecast in some areas. “In the areas that contend with these devastating ice accumulations, residents can expect dangerous travel conditions, numerous power outages and extensive tree damage,” the weather service said.

While many areas deal with the bitter cold, some parts of the Gulf Coast were likely to contend with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes Wednesday, the Storm Prediction Center said. The severe storm threat will continue Thursday in portions of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

The extreme weather threatened to affect the nation’s COVID- 19 vaccination effort. President Joe Biden’s administration said delays in vaccine shipments and deliveries were likely. After visiting Milwaukee on Tuesday, Biden said the weather was as “cold as the devil up there.”

There is a glimmer of hope for those dealing with power outages, major disruptions in daily activities or just plain exhaustion: “Behind this winter storm, there may be a break in the relentless pattern of cross- country snow and ice,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Courtney Travis said.

“While a full week of dry weather may not be the case, the central and eastern parts of the country may get some relief from the constant storminess during the final week of February,” Travis said.

COURTNEY SACCO/ USA TODAY NETWORK Fernando and Marissa Cisneros and their dogs stay warm under blankets by a heater as Texas shivers and millions are without power. The state had been warned of deficiencies in its grid.

THOMAS WELLS/ USA TODAY NETWORK Wesley Brown used a four- wheeler on the icy streets of Tupelo as much of northern Mississippi was hit by the storm.

JOSHUA A. BICKEL/ USA TODAY NETWORK Mason Spohn shovels snow off a sidewalk Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. Franklin County schools canceled remote and in- person classes after a storm dropped 3 to 4 inches of snow in the area.