Winter storm slams much of US with snow; 850,000 lose power, 10,000 flights canceled

A powerful winter storm hammered much of the United States over the weekend, leaving more than 850,000 households and businesses without electricity and forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights.

The system pushed heavy snow, freezing rain and Arctic air from the South up through the Northeast, creating hazardous road conditions and widespread disruption. Utility trackers cited by Dawn and Tribune reported the highest outage totals in Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana, where ice-laden branches snapped power lines and caused outages.

Flight-tracking data showed over 10,000 cancellations on Sunday alone, with tens of thousands more delayed or grounded nationwide. Major airports including Washington’s Reagan National were hit hard, forcing airlines to pause operations as crews worked to clear runways and de-ice aircraft. Dawn noted the disruption stretched from New Mexico through the Northeast.

The National Weather Service warned of snow totals up to 18 inches in parts of the Ohio Valley and New England, with wind chills dipping toward minus 50°F in northern Plains states. Officials urged people to stay off the roads and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

In response, more than a dozen states received emergency declarations, and 17 states plus the District of Columbia declared weather emergencies, according to Tribune. Governors mobilized National Guard units and emergency crews to help clear roads and restore power.

Forecasters said the storm was shifting east, but a fresh surge of Arctic air would keep temperatures dangerously low through the week. Authorities warned that melting snow could refreeze overnight, extending the threat of ice and further outages.

Stay updated with the latest news here.