Blizzard Paralyzes US: Frozen Iguanas, 1,000+ Crashes, Train Hits Truck

A severe blizzard swept across the United States over the weekend of January 31–February 1, 2026, bringing heavy snow, life-threatening winds, and near-polar cold. North Carolina and neighboring southeastern states were hit hardest, triggering over 1,000 traffic accidents despite official warnings and icy road conditions. In Florida—rarely seeing sub-zero temperatures—Orlando recorded -4°C, the coldest February morning in over a century. Cold-blooded iguanas froze mid-tree and fell to the ground, stunning residents and flooding social media with videos and images. Wildlife officials confirmed the reptiles enter temporary torpor but do not die; they regain mobility only as temperatures rise. Authorities urged citizens not to bring them indoors due to potential aggression upon warming. Meanwhile, a train struck a semi-truck stuck on snowy tracks in Gastonia, North Carolina—driver unharmed, but cab severely damaged. Power outages persist across Mississippi and other states following a prior deadly storm that claimed nearly 100 lives.