What severe weather conditions are currently affecting the United States?

The United States is experiencing record bitter cold temperatures with at least 25 states under snow and ice alerts as a new storm moves eastward. This extreme weather follows devastating flash floods in Kentucky that have already claimed at least 12 lives. Millions of Americans are waking up to these harsh conditions, creating a compound threat as areas recovering from flooding now face freezing temperatures, which could lead to black ice and other dangerous conditions. The combination of multiple severe weather events is creating significant challenges across a large portion of the country.