Parts of the West are under extreme heat alerts days before spring, with temperatures in some areas — including parts of Los Angeles — approaching 100 degrees. Fire departments are preparing for an influx of heat-related calls. Crews say one of the first steps when they find someone in distress is placing ice packs under the arms and, when needed, starting an IV to rapidly cool the body. Officials warn that people can be in danger even if they don’t feel hot or are not sweating, a sign that heat stroke may be developing.
Meanwhile, the East is still digging out from a major storm that dropped feet of snow across the region. National correspondent Dave Malkoff reported heavy snow and slick roads in Watertown, New York, where more than a dozen vehicles crashed on an interstate, closing the highway in both directions for miles. Southern Minnesota communities were also hit hard, with people digging out after getting slammed with more than two feet of snow.
Further south, a strong line of storms brought heavy rain and damaging winds to Tennessee and Georgia. In Atlanta, a family described winds as strong as a Category 1 hurricane that brought a tree down on their home. Tonia Steave said her 95-year-old mother was in bed when the tree fell; she bumped her head and was checked at the ER and found to be okay, though their home suffered significant damage.
Weather officials also noted a freeze warning in parts of the Southeast through tomorrow morning, creating sharp contrasts across the country. The swift shift from record heat in the West to lingering cold and heavy snow in the East highlights striking weather whiplash as the nation heads into spring.