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A winter storm is battering the southern United States on Monday with heavy snowfall and the coldest temperatures in a decade, according to National Weather Service (NWS) assessments.
Due to the weather phenomenon, which began last February 11th, all Texas counties have been declared in a state of emergency.
The storm has already set records for the region, with the NWS in Houston issuing its first wind chill warning in history on Sunday to remain in effect until noon on Tuesday, while the NWS in Austin and San Antonio said it will experience the coldest temperatures since 1989.
Officials encouraged residents to stay home amid the complex situation affecting Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, where tens of thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to respond to the disaster.
The current storm system formed on Friday night and swept across much of the Ohio Valley and Appalachians to the northeast. Texas issued a winter storm warning throughout the weekend and the early part of the following week.
Road safety will be a top priority after Fort Worth experienced a crash involving more than 130 vehicles, including 18-wheelers and passenger cars, that resulted in six deaths and dozens of injuries.
