A historic winter storm has swept across large parts of the United States, resulting in at least 10 deaths, widespread power outages, and significant travel disruptions as freezing conditions continue into Monday.
Deaths and Emergency Responses
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported that five individuals were found dead outdoors over the weekend amid freezing temperatures, highlighting the dangers of extreme cold. In Texas, authorities confirmed three fatalities, including a 16-year-old girl who died in a sledding accident. Louisiana’s health department reported two deaths due to hypothermia.
Power Outages and Travel Disruptions
PowerOutage.com tracked over 840,000 customers without electricity nationwide as of Sunday night, with the majority in the southern United States where the storm intensified. Tennessee alone experienced outages affecting more than 300,000 residential and commercial customers. Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia each reported over 100,000 outages, marking an unusual event for these typically milder states.
Flight cancellations have been extensive, with more than 19,000 flights scrapped since Saturday. Major airports in Washington, Philadelphia, and New York saw nearly all flights canceled on Monday, as the storm moved into the Northeast, bringing snow and sleet to densely populated cities.
Warnings and Weather Conditions
The US National Weather Service (NWS) advised that the storm’s Arctic air mass would bring dangerously low temperatures for several days, prolonging disruptions. Authorities from Texas to New York urged residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary due to hazardous road conditions.
The storm is linked to a stretched polar vortex, which has allowed frigid Arctic air to spill across North America. Some scientists suggest that such disruptions may be influenced by climate change, though natural variability also plays a role.
Official Statements
President Donald Trump, sheltering at the White House during the storm, assured the public via social media that monitoring and coordination with affected states would continue. Meanwhile, the NWS warned of potential long-lasting power outages, extensive tree damage, and life-threatening cold, especially in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest where wind chills could drop below -50°F (-45°C), posing severe frostbite risks.
