The United States is currently facing a record cold wave, leaving tens of thousands of households without power and halving oil and gas production in North Dakota. As an arctic cold snap swept through most of the country, large-scale power outages occurred in many states, with thousands of flights being canceled.
Record low temperatures were reported in many areas, with wind chills dropping below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the central Mississippi Valley. At least five weather-related deaths have been reported, including two from hypothermia in Oregon.
In North Dakota, temperatures in key oil-producing counties in the Bakken Shale region fell as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit, leading to hazardous weather warnings and a significant decrease in oil and gas production. The state’s average daily oil production reached 1.2 million barrels per day in October last year, but is currently shut down by up to 650,000 barrels per day.
The extreme cold also affected refinery operations in Texas, with several companies shutting down or reducing the operating rates of their equipment in response to the harsh weather conditions.
In addition, more than 3,000 flights in or out of the United States were canceled or delayed, and tens of thousands of homes were left without power in states like Oregon, Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama.
As the cold wave continues to impact the country, residents are being urged to conserve power and take precautions to stay safe during the winter storm.