CNN
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Tens of thousands of people were without power in Texas on Thursday Cold temperatures and icy roadsA bitterly cold northeaster is set to blow, which can feel below freezing.
Texas is bearing the brunt of a dangerous snowstorm that dumped several rounds of snow and freezing rain that caused life-threatening road conditions in surrounding states, including Oklahoma, Arkansas and the Memphis area in Tennessee.
On Wednesday, Texas reported that a third person died during the storm after he lost control of his truck on an icy road north of Eldorado. One person was killed in a 10-car pileup in Austin, and another died when their car overturned in the Dallas-area city of Arlington, authorities said.
As temperatures slowly rise, Thursday is expected to bring some relief from the deadly storm, which brought layers of snow and ice that snapped tree branches and limbs and left more than 360,000 homes and businesses without power in Texas. That means thousands of people don’t have proper heat or hot water due to snow falling on the ground.
Overnight into early Thursday, an additional quarter-inch of snow could polish already slippery roads, especially in central and northern Texas, southern Oklahoma and Arkansas.
“This will bring the storm’s ice total above 0.5,” which will increase the risk of significant tree damage and power outages in many locations, as well as icy, dangerous roads. “The snow may mix with freezing rain at times, increasing the chances of icy roads,” the National Weather Service said.
By late Thursday night, the Northeast could begin experiencing sub-zero temperatures from a separate winter storm, prompting officials in several states to announce preparations.
In Connecticut, the governor activated the state’s severe cold weather protocol beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through the weekend.
“With the extreme cold weather headed our way, frostbite can form on exposed skin within 30 minutes. Spending long periods outside in these conditions is not only harmful, it’s dangerous,” said Governor Ned Lamont.
Shelters and warming centers are available throughout Connecticut, and transportation may be provided when needed, the governor added.
Similarly, warming centers are expected to be available in Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont, officials said.
In Boston, the mayor declared a cold emergency for the city Friday through Sunday ahead of the bitterly cold weather.
“I urge all Boston residents to take precautions, stay warm and safe, and check on your neighbors during this cold emergency,” said Mayor Michael Wu.
More than 15 million people in the Northeast are expected to be under a wind chill watch or warning starting Thursday night or Friday morning and continuing through at least Saturday afternoon.
National Weather Service Issue a wind chill warning When the air is expected to be -25 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.
An upcoming wind chill warning applies to all parts of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, northern Connecticut, eastern and central New York and northeastern Pennsylvania.
“An air mass descending into the area Friday into Friday night is currently the coldest air in the Northern Hemisphere,” the National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine, warned.
Colder air is on track to move in from the northeast Thursday night and Friday, and colder weather is coming Friday night and Saturday morning, as The temperature drops below zero.
Temperatures in northern New England will drop 15 to 25 degrees below zero. Additionally, cooler temperatures will bring winds of 25 to 40 miles per hour, which will make the wind feel as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit in areas south of New York City.
“Avoid outdoor activities Friday and Saturday! Cold temperatures combined with wind chill factor will lead to life-threatening conditions outside,” New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management said in a statement. Register on Facebook Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, northern New York and northern New England will feel like -35 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit, with some locations experiencing wind chills as cold as 65 degrees below zero. These extreme conditions can cause frostbite within five minutes.
Temperatures will rise in most areas by Sunday afternoon, and the cold blast is expected to be brief.
