MAP: See where nearly 4 million Americans are without power amid bitter cold temperatures
- More than 5 million Americans are without power on Tuesday.
- The majority of outages are throughout Texas, according to poweroutage.us.
- The outages come as cold temperatures and more winter weather loom across the US.
Nearly 4 million people across the US are without power Tuesday evening , with most outages centered in the state of Texas, as the US deals with record-low conditions and record-setting winter weather.
According to poweroutage.us, which tracks power outages nationwide, most of the issues are in Texas, Oregon, Louisiana, and Kentucky.
As of Tuesday evening, more than 3.3 million people across the state of Texas are without power, according to the data. In Oregon, over 192,000 people were without electricity, while nearly 160,000 were without power in Louisana, and over 111,000 people were without power in both Kentucky.
Power failed for many in Oregon after a winter storm brought ice to the state, bringing down trees and power lines, KGW reported. Officials with Portland General Electric told the local NBC affiliate that some customers may not have power restored for several days.
Some regions instituted rolling blackouts, the practice of intentionally cutting power to some areas in order to prevent more widespread and uncontrolled blackouts.
The Southwest Power Pool, which manages the electric grid used in all of Oklahoma and Kansas and parts of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, and New Mexico, ordered rolling blackouts in 14 states on Monday.
The blackouts come amid frigid temperatures across the US, particularly in states like Texas that aren't primed to deal with wintry weather.
At least two people in Texas - both in the Houston area - are believed to have died because of the atypical winter weather. In total, at least 12 deaths have been linked to the recent bouts of winter weather, the Weather Channel reported on Tuesday.
Record lows coupled with power outages are keeping Americans in the cold
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a temperature of -1 degree Fahrenheit was recorded early Tuesday, the lowest temperature recorded in the region in more than a century, according to the report. About 285,397 people were without power in Dallas county early Tuesday, according to poweroutage.us.
Other records were also shattered Tuesday, according to the Weather Channel. In Lawton, Oklahoma, an all-time record low temperature of -12 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded early Tuesday. Fayetteville, Arkansas, set a new all-time record low of -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Tyler, Texas, tied an all-time record low of -3 degrees Fahrenheit. And Tulsa, Oklahoma, plunged to -13 degrees Fahrenheit.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden issued a state of emergency to offer federal assistance to Texas as it copes with the winter weather.
Texas is bracing for another round of winter weather, as WFAA reported, that's expected to bring more ice and snow to the already struggling state beginning Tuesday and lasting through Wednesday night. Dallas-Fort Worth was under a wind-chill warning through noon Tuesday, the first-ever in north Texas, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Winter weather is also expected to make its way to the northeast portion of the US later this week, as NJ.com reported.