At least 40 people have died in the US as winter storms and extreme cold threaten parts of the country.

(CNN) — An unrelenting series of winter storms and cold weather have killed many people in several US states since last Friday. Now, another round of extreme cold and snow will sweep across the center and east of the country, making travel even more dangerous and a brutally cold weekend.

Here’s the latest news:

– Dozens of people have died in connection with the storm: At least 40 people have died in nine states since January 12. Fatalities were reported in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin. In Tennessee, where the highest number of weather-related deaths has ever been recorded, the driver of a semi-truck died Monday night after losing control of the vehicle and colliding with a tractor trailer on a snowy highway in Knoxville. At least 14 people died in Tennessee due to bad weather, the state emergency management agency reported Wednesday, citing the state health department. Five people died in Pennsylvania when their minivan lost control on snow-covered I-81, the coroner’s office in Lackawanna County said.

– Another round of snow and cold is coming: More snow accumulation is expected from the Midwest to the East this Friday. Storms could once again pelt Washington and New York City after a nearly two-year wait for just over an inch of snow earlier this week. To the south, winter weather advisories are also in effect for Nashville, Lexington and Charleston, West Virginia this Thursday.

– Snow leaves thousands without power and creates dangerous displacement in the Northwest: More than 85,000 homes and businesses were without power in Oregon Wednesday morning amid freezing temperatures as freezing rain and winds swept across the Pacific Northwest. By Wednesday afternoon, power outages in Oregon were down to fewer than 50,000. Icy roads and downed trees and power lines created hazardous travel conditions that led to road closures Tuesday night and Wednesday. A nearly 50-mile stretch of I-84 from west of Portland to east of the Oregon Cascades was closed Tuesday night due to snow threats, according to the state Department of Transportation. That portion remained closed Wednesday night due to unsafe conditions, and it is unclear when it will reopen, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office said.

– Drivers in Buffalo, New York deal with snowy conditions: A lake effect snow warning is in effect in Buffalo through Thursday night, where additional snow accumulations of 9 to 18 inches are possible in some areas. 12 to 36 inches of localized snow and wind gusts of 40 mph are possible in the surrounding area. By Wednesday morning, Lackawanna, New York, south of Buffalo had received more than 30 inches of snow. “Travel may be very difficult or impossible. Areas of blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility. Hazardous conditions will affect morning travel,” the weather service warned. “Bitter winds as low as 10 below zero can cause hypothermia from blizzards if precautions are not taken.”

Cold and snow will return

Relief from the cold will be short-lived with another push of cooler air into the north-central US this Thursday. Unseasonably cold conditions will spread across much of the central and eastern US this Friday afternoon and last through most of the weekend.

Oklahoma City, Nashville, Philadelphia and New York will not have freezing temperatures this Friday. Chicago won’t get out of -12 degrees Celsius and Minneapolis will be stuck with very low temperatures this Friday when the cold freezes and lasts through the day.

Wind chills across the central US will drop to dangerous levels again this Friday, increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.

Another round of snow will hit parts of the Midwest and East on Friday as two patches of atmospheric energy collide, one of which is a nor’easter. Snow will begin falling in Chicago Thursday night and will accumulate in the interior Northeast and central Appalachia on Friday morning.

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast cities that ended their record snow drought earlier in the week with storms, including Washington, New York and Philadelphia, will once again get a chance for light to moderate snow.

Between 2 and 7 centimeters of snow is expected from the Midwest to the East, but parts of Appalachia could see closer to half a foot by the time the snow ends Friday night.

Even with less snowfall, the combination of snow and wind can make travel difficult. Cancellations and delays are also possible, especially early in the week when schools and government offices close after the storm.

A double flurry of snow and ice in the northwest

According to the weather service, the northwest United States will be affected by two consecutive storms: one of snow and freezing rain in Oregon and Washington, and heavy snow in the interior of the region through the end of the second week. .

At least seven people have died in the Portland (Oregon) area since this Friday due to bad winter weather. Four hypothermia deaths are under investigation in Multnomah County, including the city of Portland, county officials told CNN.

Millions of people in the region were under blizzard warnings early Wednesday morning, including in Portland, after a new storm moved ashore Tuesday night. As the threat of severe weather remains, Portland Public Schools plans to remain closed for a third day Thursday, the district announced.

Snow and wind gathered down trees throughout the Portland area with deadly effects. A tree fell on an elderly man who was sleeping on the second floor of his home in Lake Oswego, Oregon, killing him, Fire Chief Gert Zoutendijk told CNN.

“I don’t have enough words to describe what he looked like,” Lake Oswego Police Chief George Burke said Tuesday during an emergency city council meeting.

Winter storm warnings also extend into the Cascades and northern Rockies. Up to 91 centimeters of snow could fall in the Cascades by Thursday afternoon, and up to 60 centimeters could fall in northern parts of Washington, Idaho and Montana by late Thursday morning.

— CNN’s Nouran Salahih, Joe Sutton, Aya Elmarosi, Andy Rose, Sarah Dewberry, Raja Razek and Jennifer Henderson contributed to this report.