Harsh winter storms have made their way across much of the eastern U.S. and Midwest, leaving more than 300,000 homes and businesses across the U.S. without power and travelers stranded over Christmas as the airports closed, canceling more than 8,000 flights, and roadways quickly became impassable.
In the Buffalo, New York, area, heavy snow, more than 2 feet in some areas, and strong winds made visibility close to zero from Dec. 23 into Christmas Eve. Conditions were such that the state called in the National Guard to help road crews rescue stranded motorists and relieve medical workers who had been working their shifts for more than 24 hours. The storm has resulted in several fatalities due to road accidents, unexpected exposure to the elements and other life-threatening conditions caused by inclement weather, according to CNN. The Southern states were also hit with record cold temperatures, along with many Eastern cities, including Philadelphia, New York and Washington D.C.
Tyson announced on Dec. 22 that it was temporarily suspending operations at various facilities due to weather conditions, Reuters reports. The company released a statement saying, "We are in close contact with our customers to minimize disruption and continue to fulfill customer orders."
According to Reuters, some ADM grain facilities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana also closed early due to the storm, with dealers saying farmers showed little interest in selling corn and soybeans and were not delivering crops, thanks to the bad weather.
Producers in the central Plains expressed concern about the damage the low temperatures could inflict on dormant crops with no protective snow coverage. Reuters also reported farmers and ranchers in the Midwest taking further measures to keep their livestock safe and well cared for as they faced harsh winter temperatures, which meteorologists predicted would reach 40 below zero. No severe losses of cattle have been reported as of the release of this article.
