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| - An "unprecedented" winter storm system gripped much of the United States on Monday bringing snow and ice to the southern state of Texas and bitter-low temperatures from coast to coast. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for the state and the National Weather Service (NWS) said more than 150 million Americans were under winter storm warnings. The NWS described conditions as an "unprecedented and expansive area of hazardous winter weather" that will set record lows. "I urge all Texans to remain vigilant against the extremely harsh weather," Abbott said in a statement. More than 2.6 million people were without power in Texas, according to PowerOutage.US, and temperatures in Houston dipped to 16 degrees Fahrenheit (minus nine Celsius). President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for Texas on Sunday providing federal assistance to supplement state relief efforts. The NWS said Arctic air was driving a "polar plunge" that is expected to bring record-low temperatures to much of the country. Much of the continental United States has been shivering under chilly temperatures for days, with about half of all Americans now under some sort of winter weather warning. Temperatures have dropped across the country, with only parts of the southeast and southwest dodging it. The cold snap has led to heavy snowfalls and ice storms that have caused a spike in electricity demand and power outages. Icy roads have been blamed for several deadly accidents including a 100-car pile-up on Interstate 35 near Fort Worth, Texas, last week that left at least six people dead. "Over 150 million Americans are currently under winter storm warnings, ice storm warnings, winter storm watches, or winter weather advisories as impactful winter weather continues from coast to coast," the NWS said. "This impressive onslaught of wicked wintry weather across much of the Lower 48 (states) is due to the combination of strong Arctic high pressure supplying sub-freezing temperatures and an active storm track escorting waves of precipitation." Besides Texas, weather-related emergencies have also been declared in Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky and Mississippi. The NWS said record low temperatures were expected in much of the country. "Hundreds of daily low maximum and minimum temperatures have been/will be broken during this prolonged 'polar plunge,' with some February and even all-time low temperature records in jeopardy," it said. In a large area known as the Southern Plains that spans parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, temperatures are expected to fall well below typical readings for the time of year. Florida will remain the warmest spot in the continental United States, with highs above normal and temperatures generally around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius). wat-cl/jm
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