(CNN) Nearly 170 million people are under winter weather advisories Monday, with icy roads, power outages, and dangerously low temperatures threatening to snarl traffic and paralyze cities from coast to coast. In the nation's heartland, at least 11 people have died in weather-related vehicle accidents since cold temperatures took hold of the country. The severe winter weather has sparked emergency declarations in at least seven states, including Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas -- which has borne the brunt of the cold weather. Weather causes power outagesEarly Monday morning, more than 2 million customers were without power in the state, according to PowerOutage.US. "We are experiencing record-breaking electric demand due to the extreme cold temperatures that have gripped Texas," said ERCOT President and CEO Bill Magness.

Source: The Nation February 15, 2021 13:41 UTC