Winter storm hits southern United States

President BidenJoe BidenBiden on Trump acquittal: ‘Substance of accusation not in dispute’ White House press aide resigns after threatening convicting vote of Politico Trump reporter exposes GOP division MORE On Sunday approved a declaration of emergency for Texas and several governors declared a state of emergency as a winter storm hits the southern United States.

Southern states are stricken with snow and freezing rain as they endure the coldest temperatures for years, decades and, in at least one case, even a century. Snow is building up in Texas and Oklahoma and is expected to get heavier later Sunday.

State officials have urged residents to stay home despite the weather, with Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas all deploying the National Guard to respond to the disaster, according to the Associated Press.

Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS), told the AP that southern plain states could see up to 12 inches of snow on Monday, noting the rarity of winter storms reaching so far south.

All 254 counties in Texas received winter storm warning from NWS starting Sunday afternoon, as the state braces for still-low temperatures, wind chills and precipitation ranging from freezing rain to snow at least the next day, the Texas Tribune reported.

President Biden has approved an emergency declaration request for all Texas counties due to the results of the severe winter storm that has affected the state since February 11. His approval to activate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to respond to Texas came a day after Governor Greg Abbott (R) ‘s investigation.

“I thank President Biden for promptly issuing a federal declaration of emergency for Texas as we continue to respond to severe winter weather conditions statewide,” said Abbott, who issued a disaster statement to statewide. Friday, said in a statement.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (right) has declared a state of emergency for the 77 counties last week in anticipation of the storm.

In a Sunday update, the governor said the state and local authorities “were working around the clock to clear the roads as quickly as possible.”

Related states of emergency were also declared in at least three other southern states: Louisiana, Kentucky and Mississippi.

The storm is already setting records for the region. The Houston NWS on Sunday issued its first wind chill warning in history to stay in effect until noon Tuesday, while the Austin and San Antonio NWS said it would experience the lowest temperatures since 1989.

True story! Be careful if you have to venture outside. #houwx #bcswx #glswx #txwx https://t.co/1c5yroAiMF

– NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) February 14, 2021

Oklahoma City is expected to reach -11 degrees Tuesday morning, the lowest temperature in 116 years, according to the Washington Post.

The weather conditions led to the cancellation of many flights, including hundreds at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and the piloting of several vehicles in Texas and Oklahoma.

The Texas Electric Reliability Council, the state’s largest grid operator, warned in a statement that it may have to implement an energy emergency alert, which would result in blackouts throughout ‘State due to a’ record electrical demand ‘.