Brutal Cold Weather Sweeps Across US, Following Deadly Storms

Severe weather conditions continue to impact infrastructure and services, with widespread power outages and advisories for residents to boil water.

Brutally cold weather is sweeping across the US, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 15 degrees below zero Fahrenheit in large portions of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Kansas.
The severe weather follows two weeks of storms that have been blamed for at least 55 deaths around the country, many involving hypothermia or road accidents.
In Memphis, Tennessee, days of cold have broken so many water mains that water pressure fell throughout the city, prompting an advisory for all residents to boil water for drinking or teeth brushing.
A significant drop in blood donations, partly linked to the weather, has led Blood Assurance to recommend that more than 70 hospitals in five states halt elective surgeries until Wednesday to allow inventory to be rebuilt.
Despite work by repair crews, more than 63,000 customers were without electricity in Oregon as of Friday night due to storm damage.