The polar vortex readies to dump snow on Texas and its neighbors

DALLAS (AP) — An area stretching from Texas to Tennessee braced Wednesday for the expected arrival of freezing rain and snow, as some other parts of the country that already received an arctic blast this week prepared to go another round with the plunging polar vortex.

Arkansas' capital, Little Rock, closed schools on Thursday and Friday in preparation for the storm, which could start dumping heavy snow on the region overnight. Although certain parts of the U.S. began to emerge from a deep freeze, life still hadn't returned to normal in other locales, including the Kansas City area, which canceled classes Wednesday for a third-straight day, and the Virginia capital, Richmond, which was still under a weather-related water-boil advisory until at least Friday.

The cold snap coincided with rare January wildfires that were tearing through the Los Angeles area, forcing residents to flee from burning homes through flames, ferocious winds and towering clouds of smoke.

A mix of sleet, snow and freezing rain is expected to fall on a stretch of the U.S. from New Mexico to Alabama starting Wednesday night and early Thursday, with the heaviest amounts likely in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas, according to the National Weather Service. In the most southern locations, the snow could turn into sleet and freezing rain, which meteorologists warn could cause hazardous driving conditions.

That system is expected to push northeastward by Friday with a mix of heavy snow and freezing rain forecast from southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas all the way to the Virginia and North Carolina coasts.

As much as 8 inches (about 20 centimeters) of snow could fall in scattered parts of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia through Saturday, the weather service said.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced the closure of some state offices on Friday, while Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said all city offices would be closed that day, with employees working remotely.

The polar vortex of ultra-cold air usually spins around the North Pole, but it sometimes ventures south into the U.S., Europe and Asia. Some experts say such cold air outbreaks are happening more frequently, paradoxically, because of a warming world.

In the Dallas area, crews treated the roads ahead of the expected arrival of 2 to 4 inches (about 5 to 10 centimeters) of snow on Thursday, along with sleet and rain. Up to 5 inches is expected farther north near the Oklahoma state line, the weather service said.

Mark Reid said Wednesday that he has been very busy delivering groceries for Instacart.

“I'm going to be done probably about 5 or 6 (p.m.) today and then tomorrow I'm going to be in the house," Reid said outside of a Dallas grocery store as he loaded his fourth order of the day into his car.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday that the state had deployed several emergency agencies and opened hundreds of warming centers ahead of the storm.

“The lives of our fellow Texans are by far the most important thing,” he said, warning affected residents to avoid driving if possible.

Abbott also expressed confidence in the state's power grid, which failed during an unusually cold storm in 2021, leaving more than 3 million residents without power and resulting in the deaths of more than 200 people. He said that if an outage occurs this week, it's likely due to a downed power line.

“If there is a loss of power, it’s not going to be because of the power grid,” the governor said.

The storm could make the roads slick on Friday as 75,000 fans head to AT&T Stadium in Arlington to see Texas play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. Arlington spokesperson Susan Shrock said crews will be ready to address any hazardous road conditions around the stadium.

Some parts of Kansas have received nearly an entire year's average of snow over the past few days, hitting farmers and ranchers “in ways that we haven't seen in this area for a very, very long time, potentially a lifetime,” said Chip Redmond, a meteorologist at Kansas State University.

The risk is real: Calves, especially, can die when temperatures slip below zero. And so much snow in rural areas can keep farmers from reaching herds with food and water

In northern Florida, growers were most concerned about the ferns grown for floral arrangements, with Valentine's Day only a month away.

Major damage to citrus trees, which typically occurs when temperatures drop to 28 degrees (minus 2 degrees Celsius) or below for several hours, is less likely. Most of Florida’s commercial citrus groves are far south enough that they haven't been affected by this week's recent cold snap.

Richmond will remain under a boil-water advisory until at least Friday as officials work to restore the city’s water reservoir system, which malfunctioned after a storm this week caused a power outage, Mayor Danny Avula said.

The city of more than 200,000 residents is distributing bottled water at 11 sites, and is delivering it to older residents and others who are unable to get to those sites, officials said.

“We've got families in the city, they don't have any water,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Wednesday. “We've got young children where mothers are asking, ‘What do I do about baby formula?’”

Due to the problems in Richmond, the first working day of the legislative session was postponed, as the state Capitol and General Assembly buildings remained closed on Wednesday.

More than 50,000 customers were without power on Wednesday in Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us.

More than 2,000 flights in the U.S. were delayed or canceled before midday on Wednesday, according to tracking platform Flight Aware. More than 5,000 flights into or out of the U.S. were delayed Tuesday.

Hundreds of car accidents were reported in Virginia, Indiana, Kansas and Kentucky earlier this week, and a state trooper was treated for injuries after his patrol car was hit.

Three people died in vehicle crashes in Virginia, according to state police. Other weather-related fatal accidents occurred Sunday near Charleston, West Virginia, and Monday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Kansas, where over a foot (30 centimeters) of snow fell in places, had two deadly weekend crashes.

And in In Birmingham, Alabama, where temperatures fell below freezing, the Jefferson County coroner’s office said Wednesday that it was investigating three possible deaths from hypothermia that had occurred over the past 24 hours.

Murphy reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press reporters Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City; Charlotte Kramon in Atlanta; Nadia Lathan in Austin, Texas; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas; Kimberly Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; Chris O’Meara in Tampa, Florida; in John Raby in Cross Lanes, West Virginia; Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky; Julie Walker in New York; contributed.

Read more of the AP’s climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment

Omar Gonzalez, 70, who is homeless, right, talks with a security guard he sits on a park bench with his belongings as temperatures are forecast to be in the forties this evening Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Sterling Howard splits logs for firewood ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region later tomorrow Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Manuel Rodriguez, 62, who is homeless, drinks a hot cup of coffee while he sits on a park bench with his belongings as temperatures are forecast to be in the forties this evening Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Willie Barnes, 63, who is homeless, talks with a homeless outreach advocate offering shelter as temperatures are forecast to be in the forties this evening Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

University of Louisville student Alex Hernandez scrapes the ice and snow from the front windshield of his car, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Owensboro, Ky, while getting the vehicle ready to drive back to the college after being home for winter break. (Greg Eans/The Messenger-Inquirer via AP)

Taking advantage of the lingering ice and snow from the recent winter weather event, Dawson Mauro, 6, races down a steep hill behind Chautauqua Park while sledding, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Owensboro, Ky. (Greg Eans/The Messenger-Inquirer via AP)

Sterling Howard tosses firewood to prepare for sale ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region later tomorrow Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Phillip Stanford prepares firewood for sale ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region later tomorrow Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

A sign warns drivers of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region tomorrow in Dallas, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Pedestrians bundle up as they walk along the shore of Lake Michigan at Montrose beach during cold weather in Chicago, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Snow covers the shore of Lake Michigan during cold weather in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Pedestrians bundle up as they take a walk during cold weather in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Leaves are frozen in the ice of the Arrington Lagoon Fountain during cold weather in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Samuel Sotelo moves branches as cold temperatures and a lawn sprinkler create icicle on a tree ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region later tomorrow Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Richardson, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

A sculpture is seen in the Arrington Lagoon Fountain during cold weather in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Cold temperatures and a lawn sprinkler create icicle on a tree ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region later tomorrow Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Richardson, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

A cyclist rides through a park in Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

A harbor light is covered by ice at the church street power boat ramp on during cold weather in Evanston, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Students board a USD265 school bus on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Wichita, Kan. (Jaime Green/The Wichita Eagle via AP)

Cold temperatures and a lawn sprinkler create ice on grass ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region later tomorrow Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Richardson, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Cold temperatures and a lawn sprinkler create icicle on a tree ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region later tomorrow Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Richardson, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

A brine truck leaves the Texas Department of Transportation Dallas Southwest lot as crews prepare the roads ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Cedar Hill, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Cary Fallath, the BMW Store lot technician, clears snow from new cars in Silverton, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

The BMW Store lot technician Cary Fallath clears snow from new BMWs in Silverton, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A man uses a blower to clear snow from a sidewalk as a winter storm sweeps over the intermountain West and across the country Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in southeast Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

A sign warns drivers of ice prevention operations ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region later this week, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

A man uses a snowblower to clear a sidewalk as a winter storm sweeps over the intermountain West and across the country Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

A motorist clears now off a four-wheel-drive vehicle before taking to the roads as a winter storm sweeps over the intermountain West and across the country Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Motorists survey damage done to a utility vehicle in a crash at an intersection as a winter storm sweeps over the intermountain West and across the country Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in southeast Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

A lone vehicle moves along ice-covered Bonnie Brae Boulevard as a winter storm sweeps over the intermountain West and across the country Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Workers labor on a brine truck at the Texas Department of Transportation Dallas Southwest lot as crews prepare the roads ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Cedar Hill, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

A worker is bundled up in near-freezing temperatures as he loads into a salt spreading truck at the Texas Department of Transportation Dallas Southwest lot as crews prepare the roads ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Cedar Hill, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Cary Fallath, the BMW Store lot technician, clears snow from new cars in Silverton, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

People board a bus to an overnight shelter during a winter storm, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Taylor Mcilwain uses a snow brush to clear snow from around her car in Cincinnati, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Ben Sisarsky pitches snow over a fence as he clears his girlfriend's parking spot with a borrowed snow shovel in Cincinnati, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cary Fallath, the BMW Store lot technician, clears snow from new cars in Silverton, Ohio, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A freeze warning sign is stands outside of an apartment complex ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the North Texas region, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

A man wearing a Venezuelan flag starts a moped as snow begins to fall again, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

A worker clears snow from an apron before guiding a Delta Air Lines jet at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Mich., Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A layer of fresh snow tops holiday lawn characters outside a home as a winter storm sweeps over the intermountain West and across the country Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

A child catches snowflakes with their tongue during El Museo del Barrio's 47th annual Three Kings Day parade, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two people were killed more than 1,000 structures were destroyed as fierce wildfires raged in the Los Angeles area. Fast-moving flames burned through homes and businesses as residents fled smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods that are home to many celebrities.

Many of the towering fires began Tuesday and were fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, which gusted to more than 70 mph (112 kph) in some spots. The winds persisted Wednesday and for a while made it too dangerous for aircraft to attack the fires from the sky, furthering hampering their efforts. Aerial firefighting resumed Wednesday morning.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state has deployed more than 1,400 firefighting personnel to battle the blazes. In a rare, urgent plea, the Los Angeles Fire Department asked all off-duty firefighters in the city to help. Oregon is sending 240 firefighters and 60 engines.

AccuWeather estimates $52 billion to $57 billion in preliminary damage and economic loss has occurred from the fires.

Here's what to know about the fires:

An estimated 1,000 structures have been destroyed in the hilly coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history.

The wreckage surpassed that of the Sayre Fire of November 2008, which destroyed 604 structures in Sylmar, the northernmost suburb of the city, according to statistics kept by the Wildfire Alliance, a partnership between the city’s fire department and MySafe:LA.

the Pacific Palisades area is dotted with celebrity homes and was memorialized by the Beach Boys in their 1960s hit “Surfin’ USA.” The flames burned part of Palisades Charter High School, which has been featured in many Hollywood productions, including the 1976 horror movie “Carrie" and the TV series “Teen Wolf.”

Residents rushing to escape created a traffic jam, blocking emergency vehicles from getting through. Crews used a bulldozer to push the abandoned cars off to the side. Photos depict what some residents describe as an apocalyptic scene.

Farther inland, the Eaton Fire erupted Tuesday evening north of Pasadena. At a senior center, employees pushed dozens of residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds to a parking lot to escape.

The Eaton fire has burned more than 16.5 square miles (42.9 square kilometers), according to state fire personnel, and stands to become the largest wildfire in California during the month of January in the past 41 years.

The Hurst Fire started about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and prompted evacuations in Sylmar. That fire had grown to nearly a square mile (2.6 square kilometers) by early Wednesday.

At least 70,000 people were ordered to evacuate — a number that keeps changing because evacuation orders were continually being issued.

The flames marched toward highly populated and affluent neighborhoods, including Calabasas and Santa Monica, home to California’s rich and famous. Hollywood stars, including Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore and James Woods, were among those forced to flee.

The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames. They had been set to play at the Kings’ downtown arena Wednesday night.

The Critics Choice Awards rescheduled their Sunday ceremonies for Jan. 26. They're due to be held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, only miles from Pacific Palisades.

Film studios canceled two movie premieres because of the fires and windy weather, the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park closed for the day because of smoky, windy conditions and the J. Paul Getty Trust said two of its museums, the Getty Villa and Getty Center, will remain closed for the next few days.

Universal Studios also canceled shooting for numerous series, including “Hacks,” “Ted Lasso” and “Suits LA.”

About 400,000 customers were without power in southern California, with about 260,000 of them in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.

A resident of a senior center is evacuated as the Eaton Fire approaches Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A resident of a senior center is evacuated as the Eaton Fire approaches Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

The Palisades Fire burns a residence in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)