CNN
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A severe winter storm sweeping across the United States this past weekend poses ongoing risks of flooding in the South, Midwest, and Northeast, as dangerously cold air descends into the Central US.

This weather system, which previously inundated parts of California, resulted in hazardous conditions across multiple states from Saturday night into Sunday morning. Tragically, Kentucky reported at least nine fatalities due to rapidly rising floodwaters, with one more death confirmed in Georgia.

Although the storm has shifted eastward, severe weather will persist for several days, as highlighted by Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson. Governor Andy Beshear also issued warnings about continued flooding risks, including riverbank overflows.

Governor Beshear stated, “We anticipate widespread flooding will occur for at least another 24 hours, potentially longer,” in an update provided on Sunday afternoon.

On Friday, Beshear declared a state of emergency for Kentucky in preparation for the storm and later expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for approving a federal disaster declaration, which facilitates federal aid and ongoing search and rescue efforts across impacted regions.

“We’re actively engaged in emergency search and rescue operations,” Beshear informed CNN on Sunday. “This activity will continue throughout the day and likely into tomorrow.”

Rainfall totals in Kentucky reached astonishing levels, with Middletown, a suburb of Louisville, recording 8.45 inches. Saturday broke daily rainfall records at numerous locations, including Bowling Green, which experienced 4.23 inches, far exceeding the prior record of 1.74 inches set in 1995.

The Kentucky National Guard and State Police conducted over 1,000 rescues in less than 24 hours, as reported by Beshear. First responders are also performing “door-to-door” checks in flooded regions to ensure everyone’s safety.

“From mudslides in the east to snow in the west, the conditions are perilous. I urge everyone to plan accordingly, avoid travel, and stay safe,” Beshear emphasized in a Sunday morning social media update.

In Virginia, flash flood emergencies were declared for Tazewell, Mercer, and Summers counties, prompting swift water rescues over the weekend. In some locations, high waters have combined with snow and ice, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Virginia, cautioned that “the chilling water temperatures could lead to rapid hypothermia for anyone caught in the flooding.”

In Indiana, drone footage depicts submerged homes and roads amid snowy weather conditions. “There’s annual flooding here, but it hasn’t been this severe in quite some time,” shared Shelby Sandlin, a resident of Hardinsburg, in a Facebook post.

The risk of flooding is expected to continue in the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, as well as parts of the Appalachians, according to weather service forecasts. In contrast, heavy snowfall is anticipated across New England and the Great Lakes into Monday.

Millions across the country are currently under severe winter storm warnings, with high wind alerts extending through Monday afternoon for much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern areas, where gusts could reach up to 60 mph.

The storm has caused widespread power outages, affecting over 500,000 customers in the Eastern US as of late Sunday, according to reports from Poweroutage.us.

Life-threatening cold temperatures are expected to engulf the Central US this week, with the potential for record-breaking lows and hazardous wind chills impacting areas from the Northern Plains to the Gulf Coast.

The Kansas City region is anticipated to remain below freezing throughout the week, while cities like Dallas and Houston are projected to experience significant temperature drops from Tuesday into Wednesday.

Wind gusts may produce wind chills as severe as 60 degrees below zero in the Northern Plains and below freezing in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Kentucky could also experience sub-zero wind chills as it recovers from the weekend’s flooding.

A new winter storm developing over the Rockies is expected to bring 4 to 10 inches of snow from Kansas to Kentucky, with some regions likely to receive even greater amounts. Areas south of the snow path may see ice accumulation in cities such as Oklahoma City and Little Rock, before the storm moves into the Mid-Atlantic, including areas previously impacted by recent storms.

Altogether, over 30 million individuals from Montana to Texas are under cold weather alerts across the nation.

In Kentucky, water levels have reached alarming heights, two years following devastating flooding that resulted in 43 fatalities and extensive damage across the state. Beshear described the current situation as “massive,” citing “hundreds of water rescues” and “multiple fatalities,” which include at least one child.

“We expect the death toll to rise,” Beshear warned regarding the weekend’s fatalities while urging residents to stay off the roads, mentioning that several deaths were related to vehicle accidents.

A 73-year-old individual in Manchester, Kentucky, tragically lost his life after being swept away by floodwaters on Saturday night. The man was navigating Kentucky Highway 8 when swift currents carried him away after he exited his vehicle, as reported by the Clay County Coroner’s Office.

Additionally, two more fatalities were confirmed in Kentucky after a vehicle was overwhelmed by flash flooding in Hart County around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, as outlined by the National Weather Service.

In Georgia, one person died in the Grove Park area of Atlanta when a massive tree fell on a house during significant thunderstorm activity. Atlanta Fire Captain Scott Powell reported that emergency responders found the individual trapped inside the residence upon arrival early Sunday morning; sadly, the person did not survive.

CNN Meteorologist Robert Shackelford and contributors Chris Boyette, Dalia Faheid, Mary Gilbert, Lauren Mascarenhas, Zoe Sottile, Zenebou Sylla, Karina Tsui, Emma Tucker, and Hanna Park have all contributed to this report.