Key Takeaways:

• Severe weather has left at least 10 dead in the U.S., primarily in Kentucky.
• A polar vortex is bringing life-threatening cold temperatures across the northern Plains.
• Heavy rainfall led to significant flooding, prompting over 1,000 rescues across affected regions.

At least ten lives have been lost across the United States due to a series of severe weather events, significantly impacting Kentucky, where torrential rains led to extensive flooding. The Kentucky River reached its highest level in decades, resulting in widespread damage and prompting Governor Andy Beshear to declare a state of emergency. Reports indicate that many fatalities were due to vehicles being swept away – a tragic incident involving a mother and her 7-year-old child was confirmed in Hart County.

Over the weekend, heavy rains dumped as much as seven inches (approximately 15 centimeters) of water in Kentucky and Tennessee, leading to dangerous flooding conditions. Four people died in Hart County alone, and additional fatalities were reported in southeastern Kentucky and Atlanta, Georgia, where a large tree fell on a home.

In total, as many as 1,000 rescues have taken place across Kentucky, where the severe weather caused havoc. The National Weather Service underscored the ongoing risk, warning residents to stay away from flooded areas as conditions remain hazardous. Among those affected, 244,000 customers reported power outages across seven eastern states as the storm progressed.

For communities facing flooding, particularly in Rives, Tennessee, the situation has been labeled life-threatening as the area dealt with rising waters and a levee breach. Local officials have been conducting rescue operations while advising residents to stay indoors and heed evacuation orders.

The impact of the calamities is compounded by a polar vortex event that is now expected to bring 'life-threatening cold' to many areas, including the northern Plains, where temperatures could plummet to -45°F (-42.7°C) with wind chills reaching even lower. The Arctic air is predicted to stretch across the country as weather patterns shift, raising alarms about extreme conditions in places like North Dakota and Montana.

Reports have indicated that cold wind chills could result in temperatures feeling as low as -60°F (-51°C), causing further complications for those already impacted by the floods.

Response efforts are underway, with President Donald Trump approving a disaster declaration for Kentucky, enabling FEMA to mobilize federal resources rapidly to assist impacted communities. Governor Beshear highlighted the dire conditions, urging the public to remain cautious and avoid non-essential travel during this period.

Rain is expected to continue in parts of Kentucky, with further winter storm warnings in place across New England, where hazardous travel conditions and heavy snowfall may pose additional dangers.

For more information on the situation, you can visit CBS News and VOA News.