Tennessee officials have reported eight weather-related fatalities as the US reels from a powerful winter storm that has killed dozens across the country. The Tennessee health department confirmed the deaths on Tuesday, adding to a nationwide toll that has reached at least 60 since Friday.
The storm has left widespread power outages, with approximately 370,000 customers without electricity as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Poweroutage.us. Tennessee and Mississippi are among the hardest hit, with around 129,000 and 113,000 outages respectively. Nashville Electric Service said crews are working 'around the clock' to restore power, having already reconnected more than 123,000 customers, but over 107,000 outages remain along with more than 300 broken poles.
Other states have also reported significant loss of life. Louisiana confirmed eight deaths, including five from hypothermia, one from carbon monoxide poisoning, and a 79-year-old woman whose oxygen concentrator failed due to a power cut. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced 10 deaths, all attributed to the harsh conditions. Mississippi has at least seven fatalities, and New York reported 10 deaths outdoors, with exposure to severe cold playing a role in seven of them.
Forecasters are now monitoring another potentially major winter storm expected to hit the east coast this weekend. The National Weather Service's weather prediction centre said confidence is increasing for 'impactful heavy snow' across much of the Carolinas and parts of southern Virginia, beginning as early as Friday night. The system could bring gusty winds, reduced visibility, and difficult travel conditions.
The storm may intensify into a 'bomb cyclone', with significant snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding possible from the Carolinas to New England, according to the Weather Channel. However, officials caution that several factors remain uncertain and forecasts may change as the system approaches.
