A deadly winter storm has claimed at least two lives in Louisiana, according to officials, as frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall sweep across the country. The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed that two men died from hypothermia in Caddo Parish near Shreveport, though details about the victims remain undisclosed.

Winter Storm Fern, fueled by an arctic air mass, has unleashed multiple inches of snow and ice while dropping dangerously cold temperatures across the U.S., stretching from the Central Plains to the East Coast. The system began on Friday, January 23, with its impact expected to persist into the Northeast until Monday, January 26.

The storm has brought sleet, freezing rain, and heavy snow to states including Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas, triggering widespread power outages, flight cancellations, and hazardous travel conditions. Sports commentator Tim Brando reported over 120,000 Louisiana residents are without electricity.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also cited five speculated deaths in the city during the storm, though he emphasized it is too early to confirm their causes. A polar vortex that shifted south last week has contributed significantly to the extreme cold gripping much of the nation.

Forecasters warn dangerous cold will linger after precipitation ends, underscoring the severity of the ongoing winter weather crisis.