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43 states under cold weather alerts, with blizzard warning in parts of Texas

43 states under cold weather alerts, with blizzard warning in parts of Texas

About 265 million Americans, or nearly 80% of the population, are under cold weather advisories Tuesday, as dangerous temperatures are felt in at least 43 states.

About 45 million Americans in the South are under winter storm warnings as the largest winter storm in decades hits the Gulf states today, from Texas to Florida and along the Carolina coast.

WATCH: How to keep pets safe in cold weather

Storm prompts first blizzard warning issued for Beaumont, Texas, and Lake Charles and Lafayette, Louisiana.

Storm prompts first blizzard warning issued for Beaumont, Texas, and Lake Charles and Lafayette, Louisiana.

That storm brings the first blizzard warning issued for Beaumont, Texas, and Lake Charles and Lafayette. Louisianawith observed visibility of up to a quarter mile and wind gusts of up to 35 mph.

More than 12 million Americans are also under red flag warnings in Southern California, and about 3 million are tagged with a “particularly dangerous situation” as high winds and desperately dry conditions grip already reeling communities.

Extreme cold from coast to coast

Only five of the lower 48 states are not under cold weather advisories as of Tuesday morning: Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Connecticut and Rhode Island. All other states are either fully involved in cold alerts or partially affected.

Record lows were recorded in several cities on Monday, including Colorado Springs, Colorado, where the temperature dropped to 14 degrees below zero. Rawlins, Wyoming, reached 23 degrees below zero; Alliance, Nebraska, reached 22 degrees below zero; and Borger, Texas, tied its all-time low of 1 degree.

Temperatures early Tuesday are below freezing along the Gulf Coast and up to 20 below zero in the north, and those are just the actual temperatures. With wind chills, it feels like 40 degrees below zero in Fargo, North Dakota, and about 18 degrees in Houston, Texas.

Exceptionally low temperatures are possible in Kansas City, Missouri, and Salina, Kansas. Even this afternoon, the wind chill will not exceed 15 degrees below zero in Chicago, Illinois.

Here are some tips to keep pets safe in the winter.

On Wednesday morning, the coldest wind chill temperatures will reach the Northeast, where near-zero wind chills will affect New York City and DC and drop below freezing in Boston. Farther south in the Great Smokey Mountains, Asheville, North Carolina will feel like -2 on Wednesday morning.

Record lows are possible Wednesday morning in places like Corpus Christi, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Mobile, Pensacola along the Gulf Coast, and Cleveland and Akron in Ohio.

In the Midwest, many of these cold advisories are in effect only through Tuesday morning. In the south and east, alerts extend until Wednesday or Thursday depending on location.

Historic snowstorm in the south

In the late 19th century there was a major snowstorm along the Gulf Coast, but most of those records are not recognized by the National Health Service. Climate Service, as it was before accurate snowfall reports were established for these areas.

However, reports of 20 inches in Houston and 8 inches in New Orleans mean this storm won’t surpass those historic numbers, but that also happened just as electricity was being introduced to southern cities, so it’s likely It will be the storm with the greatest impact. storm of our modern and historical era of the last century.

Debilitating travel conditions are expected to become widespread and power outages will be possible, which is dangerous due to the life-threatening cold that could also burst pipes.

Local officials are warning residents to be prepared in the event of a power outage, and in some communities there are suggestions to stay home and not travel if not necessary.

RELATED: How to Make a Winter Weather Emergency Kit for Your Car and You

A first blizzard warning was issued for Beaumont, TX, Lake Charles, LA, and Lafayette, LA with observed visibility up to a quarter mile and wind gusts up to 35 mph. (h/t Wnek)

Already in central Texas, more than an inch has fallen in Gonzales and 1 inch has been reported in Taylor. These numbers will be updated throughout the morning as reports come in.

Radar shows widespread snow from Austin to near Corpus Christi, where there will likely be sleet, from Houston to nearly all of Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama this morning.

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