In a weekend filled with extreme winter weather, the United States faced a barrage of Arctic storms that threatened to break low-temperature records, engulfing the nation's heartland and impacting various aspects of daily life, from sports events to political campaigns.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend began with a weather forecast that painted a complex picture of color-coded advisories across the country. From an ice storm warning in Oregon to a blizzard warning in the northern Plains, high wind warnings in New Mexico, and flood warnings in the mid-Atlantic, the entire nation felt the grip of the winter storms.

The fallout from these storms was evident, with a 100-vehicle stall on Interstate 80 in Iowa due to slippery conditions. Semitrailers jackknifed on the road, blocking traffic for hours while tow trucks worked tirelessly to clear the area. Sgt. Alex Dinkla of the Iowa State Patrol described the challenges faced by road crews as they battled high winds and drifting snow that kept roadways constantly shifting between open and closed.

Tragically, a hypothermia death was reported in Portland, Oregon, as freezing rain and heavy snow surprised the city, more accustomed to mild winter rains. Hundreds of people sought refuge at warming centers, while high winds knocked down trees and left tens of thousands without power in western Oregon.

Parts of Montana saw temperatures dip below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-34 degrees Celsius), and the National Weather Service warned that similar frigid conditions were expected as far south as northern Kansas, with the possibility of plummeting to minus 50 F (-46 C) in the Dakotas.

With multiple storms parading across the country, meteorologists described the weather as "very active" and potentially "life-threatening." Governors from New York to Louisiana issued warnings to residents to be prepared for the extreme conditions. Unfortunately, there have already been weather-related deaths this week, including avalanches in California and Idaho, as well as cold exposure in the Chicago suburbs of Illinois. In Wisconsin, a man lost his life while snow-blowing his driveway.

Power outages affected hundreds of thousands of households and businesses, with Michigan and Wisconsin being the hardest hit. Illinois officials pleaded with Texas Governor Greg Abbott to halt the relocation of migrants to Chicago, as the city's shelters reached their maximum capacity while new arrivals sought refuge in "warming buses." However, Governor Abbott refused the request but warned Texans to brace for icy conditions.

In St. Louis, the National Weather Service issued a rare and "life-threatening" cold warning, underscoring the severity of the winter storms.

Despite the challenging conditions, some residents found ways to embrace the winter weather. In Des Moines, Iowa, Grant Rampton and his friends went sledding, bundling up with layers of clothing and constant movement to keep warm. They highlighted their ability to make their own fun even in challenging times.

However, the winter storms did impact various events. Republican contenders Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and former President Donald Trump all canceled their campaign events due to the hazardous weather conditions. The Buffalo Bills' NFL playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was rescheduled from Sunday to Monday. Kansas City, Missouri, hosted a frigid playoff game on Saturday night, with temperature and windchill factors making it feel well below freezing.

As coastal areas in southern Maine and New Hampshire experienced heavy rainfall, causing flooding and road closures, the city of Portland, Maine, braced for potential flooding as well.

As this wave of Arctic storms continued to impact the nation, residents were urged to prioritize safety and take necessary precautions to navigate through the extreme weather conditions.