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Icy Winter Storm Leaves Over 560,000 Without Power, 30 Dead, Flights Disrupted

Updated (2 articles)

Massive snowfall blankets 1,300‑mile corridor The storm dumped more than a foot of snow from Arkansas to New England, with some areas north of Pittsburgh receiving up to 20 inches (50 cm) and wind chills plunging to minus 25 °F (‑31 °C) [1][2]. Snow depths halted traffic, forced school closures and stranded motorists across the region [1][2]. The accumulation marked the snowiest day in years for several cities, including New York City, which saw 8‑15 inches (20‑38 cm) [2].

Power outages exceed half a million households More than 550,000 homes lost electricity, primarily in the South where freezing rain snapped tree limbs and power lines [1][2]. Mississippi and Tennessee reported the greatest impact, with officials warning that restoration could take several days [1][2]. Outages left residents without heat amid extreme‑cold warnings spanning Texas to Pennsylvania [1].

Death toll rises to at least 30 across 12 states Fatalities include snowplow accidents in Massachusetts and Ohio, teenage sledding deaths in Arkansas and Texas, and eight outdoor deaths in New York City still under investigation [1][2]. Additional deaths occurred in Kansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Kentucky and Mississippi, linked to exposure and accidents [2]. Authorities attribute the high death count to the combination of deep snow, icy roads and dangerously low temperatures [1][2].

Air travel crippled by storm‑related delays and cancellations More than 12,000 flights were delayed or cancelled nationwide, and 45 % of all U.S. flights were cancelled on Sunday, the highest rate since the COVID‑19 pandemic [2]. Major hubs such as Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport experienced severe disruptions, stranding passengers and crews [2]. The airline chaos compounded the challenges faced by emergency responders and stranded travelers [2].

Mississippi endures its worst ice storm since 1994 Governor Tate Reeves reported major damage to 14 homes, one business and 20 public roads, prompting the deployment of cots, blankets, bottled water and generators to warming stations [1][2]. The University of Mississippi canceled classes for an entire week as the Oxford campus remained coated in treacherous ice [1][2]. Emergency officials emphasized the storm’s unprecedented nature, with some residents reporting three weeks of continuous snow [1].

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Timeline

1994 – Mississippi experiences its previous most damaging ice storm, a benchmark that officials later cite when describing the 2026 event as the worst since that year [1][2].

Jan 2014 – The United States records its coldest average low temperature in recent memory; the 2026 storm later produces the coldest nationwide average low since then [1].

Jan 26, 2026 – A colossal winter system sweeps a 1,300‑mile corridor from Arkansas to New England, dumping more than a foot of snow and wind chills down to ‑25 °F, halting traffic, cancelling thousands of flights and forcing school closures [1][2].

Jan 26 night, 2026 – Freezing rain shatters tree limbs and power lines, leaving over 560,000 households without electricity, with the greatest impact in Mississippi, Tennessee and northern Mississippi [1][2].

Jan 26‑27, 2026 – Flight operations grind to a halt: more than 12,000 delays and cancellations occur, and 45 % of U.S. flights are cancelled on Sunday, the highest rate since the COVID‑19 pandemic [2].

Jan 26‑27, 2026 – Schools close across multiple states; the University of Mississippi cancels an entire week of classes as its Oxford campus remains iced over [1][2].

Jan 26‑27, 2026 – The National Weather Service issues extreme‑cold warnings from Texas to Pennsylvania; Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear warns that ten minutes outdoors can cause frostbite or hypothermia [1].

Jan 26‑27, 2026 – At least 30 deaths are confirmed, including snowplow and sledding accidents, teenage sledding fatalities in Arkansas and Texas, and eight bodies found outdoors in New York City [1][2].

Jan 27, 2026 – Lisa Patterson is rescued after being snowed in for nearly three weeks; she describes the ordeal as “unprecedented” while authorities transport her to a warming shelter [1].

Jan 27, 2026 – Gov. Tate Reeves declares the storm Mississippi’s worst ice event since 1994, reporting major damage to 14 homes, one business and 20 public roads, and detailing the deployment of cots, blankets, water and generators to warming stations [1][2].

Jan 27, 2026 – Forecasts project an average low of ‑9.8 °F (‑12.3 °C) across the contiguous United States, marking the coldest nationwide temperature swing since January 2014 [1].

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