Massive Winter Storm Paralyzes U.S. with Ice, Snow and Subzero Temperatures
A massive winter storm unleashed sleet, freezing rain and snow across much of the United States on Sunday, bringing subzero temperatures that paralyzed air and road traffic. The severe weather caused tree branches and power lines to snap under the weight of ice, leaving approximately one million homes and businesses in the Southeast without electricity.
Widespread Impact and Continued Threats
The National Weather Service warned that ice and snowfall were expected to continue into Monday across much of the country, followed by dangerously low temperatures. These conditions could cause dangerous travel and infrastructure impacts to linger for several days. Heavy snow was forecast from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, while catastrophic ice accumulation threatened regions from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
Weather service meteorologist Allison Santorelli described the storm as unique due to its extensive reach. "It is a unique storm in the sense that it is so widespread," Santorelli said in a phone interview. "It was affecting areas all the way from New Mexico, Texas, all the way into New England, so we're talking like a 2,000 mile spread."
Emergency Declarations and State Responses
President Donald Trump had approved emergency declarations for at least a dozen states by Saturday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency pre-positioned commodities, staff and search and rescue teams in numerous states, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the state was bracing for the longest cold stretch and highest snow totals it has seen in years. Communities near the Canadian border have already experienced record-breaking subzero temperatures, with Watertown registering minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit and Copenhagen minus 49 degrees Fahrenheit.
"An Arctic siege has taken over our state," Hochul declared. "It is brutal, it is bone chilling and it is dangerous."
Localized Effects and Power Outages
As of Sunday morning, about 213 million people were under some sort of winter weather warning, Santorelli reported. The number of customers without power stood at approximately one million, according to poweroutage.us.
The storm's impact varied across states:
- Tennessee was hardest hit with about 337,000 customers without power by midday Sunday
- Louisiana and Mississippi each had more than 100,000 customers in the dark
- Tens of thousands of homes and businesses lost power in Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and West Virginia
Travel Disruptions and Airport Closures
The storm caused significant travel disruptions, with approximately 11,000 flights canceled on Sunday and more than 14,000 delayed, according to flight tracking data. Airports in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York and New Jersey were particularly affected.
At Philadelphia International Airport, displays showed numerous canceled flights with few vehicles arriving Sunday morning. Reagan National Airport in Washington saw virtually all flights canceled.
Bitter Cold Compounds Problems
Santorelli warned that even after the ice and snow stop falling, the danger would continue. "Behind the storm it's just going to get bitterly cold across basically the entirety of the eastern two-thirds of the nation, east of the Rockies," she explained. This means ice and snow won't melt quickly, potentially hindering power restoration and infrastructure repair efforts.
Along the Gulf Coast, temperatures reached the high 60s and low 70s on Sunday but were expected to drop into the high 20s and low 30s by Monday morning. The National Weather Service warned of damaging winds and a slight risk of severe storms, possibly including brief tornadoes.
Fatalities and Safety Warnings
In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported that at least five people who died were found outside as temperatures plunged Saturday before the snow arrived in earnest, though the cause of their deaths remained under investigation. The Democrat pleaded with New Yorkers to stay inside and off roads: "We want every single New Yorker to make it through this storm."
Two men died of hypothermia related to the storm in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, according to the state health department. Across affected areas, officials announced that schools would be canceled or held remotely on Monday.
Recovery Challenges and Extended Outages
In Oxford, Mississippi, police used social media to tell residents to stay home as outdoor conditions remained too dangerous. Local utility crews were also pulled from their jobs during overnight hours due to safety concerns.
"Due to life-threatening conditions, Oxford Utilities has made the difficult decision to pull our crews off the road for the night," the utility company posted on Facebook early Sunday. "Trees are actively snapping and falling around our linemen while they are in the bucket trucks."
Tippah Electric Power in Mississippi reported catastrophic damage and warned that restoration could take "weeks instead of days." The Tennessee Valley Authority, which provides power to utilities across the region, reported that the bulk power system remained stable but overnight icing had caused power interruptions in north Mississippi, north Alabama, southern middle Tennessee and the Knoxville, Tennessee area.
Icy roads made travel dangerous in north Georgia, where the Cherokee County Sheriff's office posted on Facebook about a closed Waffle House restaurant, noting that "You know it's bad when Waffle House is closed!!!" The status of Waffle House restaurants has become an informal way to gauge the severity of weather disasters across the South.
