A massive winter storm has battered the United States, leaving over a million without power, cancelling thousands of flights and causing deaths as extreme cold tightens its grip.
FIle image: A slow-moving winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, ice and dangerous cold across much of the US. | (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua | IANS)
A powerful winter storm is gripping the United States, knocking out electricity, halting air travel, and claiming lives as severe cold and snow move from the South towards the Northeast.
At the height of the storm, more than a million households and businesses were left in the dark, while tens of thousands of flights were cancelled or delayed, stranding travellers across the country. Authorities warned that the worst impacts may not yet be over, with bitter cold expected to linger for days.
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Freezing rain and heavy snowfall brought down trees and power lines across dozens of states, hitting the South and parts of the Mid-Atlantic hardest.
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Data from PowerOutage.com showed over 1,000,000 customers without electricity at peak levels. Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Georgia reported the most severe disruptions.
Tennessee faces a particularly grim situation. More than 300,000 customers remain without power as ice continues to damage trees and utility poles. Nashville Electric Service said restoring power could take days, warning that repair crews are working in dangerous, freezing conditions.
With demand surging and infrastructure damaged, the US Department of Energy issued emergency orders allowing grid operators to deploy backup generation in Texas and the Mid-Atlantic.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the measures were intended to “keep Americans safe during Winter Storm Fern” and maintain reliable electricity during record-low temperatures. The orders will remain in effect through the end of January.
The storm has severely disrupted air travel across the country. Since Friday, more than 30,000 flights have been affected, with over 18,000 cancellations.
Airlines suspended nearly all operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. LaGuardia and several other major hubs were also forced to shut down or operate at limited capacity.
On the ground, officials urged residents to avoid travel. Snow, sleet and freezing rain created treacherous conditions, with treated roads quickly refreezing as temperatures dropped into the teens and single digits.
State police across multiple regions reported more than 300 weather-related crashes and received over 4,000 calls for assistance.
The human cost continues to rise. Authorities confirmed multiple deaths linked to the cold. In Austin, Texas, one unresponsive person is believed to have died from hypothermia. Louisiana officials confirmed two hypothermia deaths in Caddo Parish, while New York City is investigating several suspected fatalities.
Schools, courts, and government offices were shut across affected areas. Major school districts in Philadelphia, Boston, Nashville, New York City, and Dallas cancelled in-person classes or moved online. Many universities on the East Coast and in the South have announced they will be closed through Monday or Tuesday.
Meteorologists said the storm system stretches nearly 2,000 miles, from New Mexico to Maine. The National Weather Service warned that even as snowfall eases in some regions, dangerously cold conditions will persist.
New York City recorded nearly nine inches of snow in Central Park. Pittsburgh saw its heaviest snowfall in more than 15 years. Parts of New England braced for up to two feet of snow.
Officials said prolonged power outages combined with extreme cold pose serious risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. Warming centres and emergency shelters have been opened as federal and state agencies race to prevent further loss of life.
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