Millions of people across the country have been dealing with a powerful winter storm that dumped snow from Tennessee to Virginia and beyond. Now, as the storm moves away, it’s leaving behind frigid temperatures, icy roads, and plenty of cleanup.
While the worst of the snow is over, some areas in the Northeast—especially Cape Cod—could still see a few more inches before the system fully clears out. Meanwhile, gusty winds are making already cold temperatures feel even more brutal.
In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee shut down state offices on Wednesday due to hazardous travel conditions. Roads in many areas were already covered in snow and ice, making driving dangerous. Over in Mississippi, a blast of bitterly cold air is keeping temperatures from warming up, with lows dropping into the teens and 20s. The wind chill? Even worse, with some areas feeling like they’re in the single digits.
The icy conditions have been especially bad in Kentucky, where more than a dozen people lost their lives due to the winter weather. “If the snow wasn’t tough enough, it’s dangerously cold right now,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “And it’s only getting colder.”
In Virginia, snow piled up quickly, especially in Virginia Beach, where 10 inches fell overnight. Some residents made the best of it—one man even broke out his cross-country skis and hit the boardwalk. But for visitors like Chuck Passkiewicz, who had traveled from Michigan to escape the snow, it was a frustrating surprise. “It is what it is,” he said.
The storm also brought snow and ice to parts of North Carolina, knocking out power for thousands of residents. Early Thursday morning, about 7,000 customers were still in the dark.
The good news? A warmup is on the way. By the weekend, temperatures will rise dramatically, with some areas seeing highs 50 to 70 degrees warmer than the lows earlier in the week. So while winter may have had its moment, spring-like weather isn’t too far behind.
