Massive Winter Storm Sweeps Eastern U.S., Prompting Power Outages and Flight Cancellations
Updated (2 articles)
Storm spans Texas to New England with ice, snow, and extreme cold A colossal low‑pressure system is moving from New Mexico and Texas eastward, delivering a continuous band of freezing rain that could coat roads from Texas through the Deep South, while heavy snow accumulations of up to a foot are forecast from Oklahoma to Boston. Wind‑chill values may dip to –50 °F in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota, exposing millions to life‑threatening cold. The storm’s trajectory follows a south‑to‑northeast path, intensifying as it climbs the Atlantic seaboard [1][2].
Utilities mobilize as power‑grid vulnerability resurfaces Governors have issued emergency declarations and placed thousands of utility crews on standby, recalling the 2021 Texas grid collapse as a cautionary benchmark. Anticipated ice glaze threatens widespread line breakage, prompting pre‑emptive power‑outage mitigation plans across the affected states. Utility operators report heightened preparation activity, including deployment of repair equipment and strategic stockpiling of critical supplies [1][2].
Air travel and sports schedules face massive disruptions Airlines canceled roughly 250 flights on Friday and an additional 400 on Saturday, with major hubs in Dallas, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa experiencing the greatest reductions. Collegiate athletic programs have postponed or advanced games, and the Texas Rangers scrapped their Fan Fest, illustrating the storm’s ripple effect on large‑scale events. These cancellations reflect coordinated efforts to safeguard passengers and participants amid hazardous conditions [1][2].
Communities respond with road treatment and school adjustments Brine trucks are already treating highways from Oklahoma to Tennessee, while Chicago and Des Moines have closed schools and Wake County, N.C., plans three online instructional days. Residents have stocked up on food, water, and heating fuel, and local officials continue to urge adherence to safety protocols as the cold snap persists for several days [1][2].
Sources (2 articles)
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[1]
WBNS: Huge US winter storm threatens crippling ice, snow from Texas to Boston: Details the storm’s expansive ice glaze, potential foot‑deep snow, wind‑chill extremes, emergency declarations, and the cancellation of hundreds of flights across key airports .
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[2]
AP: Eastern U.S. braces for severe ice storm with potential outages and extreme cold: Highlights 160 million people under warnings, power‑outage risks, extensive road‑treatment efforts, school closures, and the postponement of sports events .
Timeline
Jan 22, 2026 – The National Weather Service issues winter‑storm watches that cover roughly 160 million people across the eastern two‑thirds of the United States, warning of a “dangerous mix of ice, snow and bitter cold” and forecasting wind chills that “could plunge to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit” in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota. [1][2]
Jan 22, 2026 – Governors across the region activate emergency declarations and place thousands of utility crews on standby, explicitly citing the “severe cold snap five years ago that took down much of the power grid in Texas” as a cautionary precedent for the current storm. [2]
Jan 22, 2026 – Local authorities begin public‑safety actions: Chicago and Des Moines cancel classes, Wake County, North Carolina, prepares for three online school days, and brine trucks start treating roads from Oklahoma to Tennessee as the storm approaches. [1]
Jan 22, 2026 – Major sports and public events adjust to the looming weather; the Texas Rangers cancel their Fan Fest, and several college football teams move up or postpone games, illustrating the storm’s broad societal reach. [1]
Jan 23, 2026 (Friday) – The system rolls into New Mexico and Texas, delivering heavy ice and initiating power‑line work; airlines cancel about 250 flights at hubs in Dallas, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Tulsa as the storm intensifies. [2]
Jan 24, 2026 (Saturday) – The storm tracks up the Atlantic coast toward New England, prompting an additional 400 flight cancellations and expanding ice‑glaze and snowfall threats from Texas all the way to Boston. [2]
Jan 24‑25, 2026 – Residents across the affected corridor endure prolonged bitter cold, with wind chills remaining near ‑50 °F and power utilities continuing to brace for “widespread outages” as the frigid air persists for several days. [1][2]
External resources (1 links)
- http://flightaware.com/ (cited 1 times)