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Winter Storm Leaves Over Dozen Dead, Half‑Million Still Without Power, Flights Disrupted

Updated (100 articles)

Massive swath of snow, ice and record cold grips the United States The storm covered a 1,300‑ to 2,000‑mile corridor from the Southwest to New England, dumping more than a foot of snow in many areas and up to an inch of ice in the Deep South [1][3][4][6][9]. Temperatures plunged to wind chills of –25 °F (‑31 °C) and record daily lows were reported across the Plains, affecting 56 % of the Lower 48 states [1][3][14]. Fatalities rose to at least 30 across multiple states, including snowplow‑run‑over deaths, sledding accidents and hypothermia cases [4][6][9][14][15].

Power outages remain widespread despite early restoration gains Initial outages topped 1 million customers, but by Monday night more than 500,000 remained without electricity, with the highest concentrations in Tennessee (≈175 k), Mississippi (≈140 k) and Louisiana (≈100 k) [1][2][3][6][19]. PowerOutage.US and Poweroutage.com data show 800,000‑plus customers still in the dark in some reports, reflecting differing tracking methodologies [2][6]. Utilities warned that full restoration could take a week or longer in the hardest‑hit locales, especially where ice snapped trees and poles [2][3][5][18].

Air travel crippled by unprecedented cancellations and delays Airlines canceled more than 11,600 flights on Sunday and an additional 6,000‑12,000 on Monday, marking the largest single‑day cancellation count since the COVID‑19 shutdown [1][4][5][15][10]. Major hubs such as Dallas‑Fort Worth, LaGuardia, Philadelphia and Reagan National saw near‑total shutdowns, with some airports cancelling over 90 % of scheduled departures [5][15][4]. Flight‑tracking firms expect the ripple effect to persist for several days as airlines scramble to re‑schedule crews and aircraft [15][10].

Extreme‑cold warnings and a looming secondary system heighten risk Extreme‑cold warnings stretched from Texas to Pennsylvania, with wind chills near –5 °F in parts of Texas and –25 °F in the Midwest [7][8][14]. The National Weather Service warned that Arctic air will keep sub‑zero temperatures across two‑thirds of the nation, and forecasters flagged a possible nor’easter that could strike the East Coast later in the week [8][14][16]. These conditions threaten to exacerbate existing power‑outage challenges and impede repair crews [7][8].

State and federal responders mobilize emergency resources Mississippi’s Governor deployed 500 National Guard members and set up warming stations with cots, blankets and generators [1][5][18]. Tennessee officials activated emergency shelters and pledged hundreds of line workers to address broken poles [1][3]. Federal emergency declarations were signed for at least a dozen states, allowing FEMA to pre‑position supplies and the Energy Secretary to relax emissions limits for critical generators [19][20].

Death‑toll figures differ across reports The BBC cited at least 12 fatalities [9], while CNN referenced “over a dozen” [1] and AP/WBNS reported 30 + deaths [4][6][15]. Discrepancies stem from ongoing investigations and varying definitions of storm‑related versus incidental deaths.

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Timeline

2021 – Texas power‑grid failure – The 2021 winter freeze caused widespread blackouts across Texas, prompting officials to vow “no expectation whatsoever” of a repeat during the 2026 storm, a reassurance echoed by Governor Greg Abbott [2].

1994 – Mississippi ice storm – The 1994 ice event remains the benchmark for severity; Mississippi officials in 2026 compare the current ice accumulation to that historic storm, noting it “surpasses the historic 1994 ice event” [5].

2020 – Midwest derecho – The May 2020 derecho set a record for outage numbers in Tennessee; the 2026 storm’s 230,000‑customer outage exceeds that previous high [5].

Dec 19 2025 – Severe thunderstorm warnings sweep New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, bringing 60‑70 mph wind gusts and rare December tornado threats; officials urge residents to seek interior shelter immediately [25].

Dec 26 2025 – A early winter storm drops 4.3 inches of snow in Central Park—the most since Jan 2022—while Governor Kathy Hochul declares a state of emergency across half of New York’s counties; more than 900 flights cancel and Code Blue activates to protect the homeless [4].

Dec 27 2025 – Record snowfall blankets Aspendell, California (55 inches in 24 hours) and New York City (4.3 inches), prompting Governor Hochul to issue a disaster emergency and airlines to cancel over 600 flights statewide [24].

Dec 28 2025 – Blizzard conditions grip the Midwest and Northeast, placing 2 million people under blizzard warnings, halting travel on I‑35, and leaving over 115 000 customers without power, especially in Michigan [23].

Jan 20 2026 – The National Weather Service forecasts a massive winter storm that will blanket the South with rain, snow, freezing rain and sleet from Texas to the Carolinas; more than 200 million Americans are expected to see temperatures below 20 °F, and icy conditions threaten I‑20 and I‑40 [29].

Jan 22 2026 – Eastern states brace for a severe ice storm as 160 million people fall under winter‑weather watches; governors declare emergencies, schools close, and officials stockpile food, salt and blankets [21].

Jan 22 2026 – Nationwide ice‑storm preparation escalates: alerts cover about 160 million people, foot‑deep snow threatens the I‑95 corridor, and Washington, D.C. faces “life and property risk” from combined snow, ice and extreme cold [20].

Jan 23 2026 – A monster winter storm threatens two‑thirds of the U.S.; twelve states, including New York and Kentucky, declare emergencies, and Governor Hochul urges remote work, warning that the storm could be “the biggest snowstorm in a decade” for the capital [17].

Jan 23 2026 – The Winter Storm Severity Index flags very high ice risk for Mississippi, western North Carolina and Georgia, warning that half‑inch accumulations could snap power lines and trees [18].

Jan 23 2026 – Broad NWS warnings announce snowfall up to 17 inches in Pennsylvania and dangerous cold from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes, with travel “nearly impossible” through Sunday and Monday [19].

Jan 23 2026 – Forecasters warn a crippling ice storm could hit from Texas to New England, with 160 million under watches; Texas utilities ready thousands of workers to protect the grid [28].

Jan 23 2026 – The storm stretches from Texas to New England, covering 1 300 miles; experts say damage could rival a hurricane, and Arctic air drives wind chills to –40 °F in the Midwest [26].

Jan 23 2026 – Flight disruptions surge: more than 19 000 flights are delayed and over 1 000 canceled on Friday, with Southwest leading cancellations and Dallas‑Fort Worth the busiest affected hub [27].

Jan 24 2026 – President Donald Trump signs emergency declarations for a dozen states; FEMA positions 30 search‑and‑rescue teams, 7 million meals, 600 000 blankets and 300 generators, and assures the nation is “fully prepared” [14].

Jan 24 2026 – The storm threatens half of the U.S. population; 182 million are under ice/snow watches, schools close, airlines cancel thousands of flights, and the USPS issues a service alert for mail disruptions [15].

Jan 24 2026 – Over 9 000 flights cancel nationwide as the storm approaches; 140 million people face warnings, and forecasters compare potential ice damage to a hurricane, while Texas records 27 600 power outages [14].

Jan 24 2026 – Record‑breaking flight cancellations hit 13 000 across the country; major carriers waive rebooking fees and the DOT requires full refunds for canceled flights, though no mandatory meals or lodging are required [13, 16].

Jan 25 2026 – President Trump approves emergency declarations for South Carolina, Virginia and North Carolina; ice buildup knocks out power for over 80 000 customers, and the storm creates a 100‑degree temperature swing from Florida to Minnesota [12].

Jan 25 2026 – A weekend of 13 000+ flight cancellations becomes the highest since the COVID‑19 pandemic; 140 000 customers lose power, Georgia deploys 120 National Guard members, and wind chills plunge to –40 °F in the Midwest [11].

Jan 26 2026 – The National Weather Service warns of another significant winter storm arriving Friday, urging residents to prepare for “very cold temperatures and widespread heavy precipitation” [1].

Jan 26 2026 – The U.S. braces for an “extremely dangerous” storm affecting 200 million people; sixteen states activate the National Guard, New York readies 1 600 plows and 114 000 tonnes of salt, and Texas officials stress grid stability [2].

Jan 26 2026 – At least seven storm‑related deaths are confirmed, power outages affect over 800 000 homes, and more than 11 000 flights cancel as 180 million people face heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain; meteorologists link the event to a southward‑shifted polar vortex [3].

Jan 26 2026 – AccuWeather identifies a developing system that could intensify into a nor’easter, potentially delivering heavy snow from the Mid‑Atlantic to New England and severe cold with wind chills below zero as far south as the Gulf Coast [7].

Jan 26 2026 – The storm creates a brutal travel day: FlightAware logs over 11 400 cancellations, LaGuardia cancels 91 % of flights, and the event becomes the most severe cancellation episode since the pandemic [8].

Jan 26 2026 – Ice and snow blanket roughly 40 % of the nation; officials call it “the largest storm that we’ve seen impact the most states in this big of a population in possibly decades,” with snowfall up to 31 inches in Colorado [9].

Jan 26 2026 – Record sub‑zero temperatures hit the Canadian border (Watertown, NY –34 °F; Copenhagen, NY –49 °F); federal emergency declarations activate FEMA resources, and Mississippi endures its worst ice storm since 1994 [10].

Jan 27 2026 – The storm kills over a dozen people, power outages peak at more than one million and remain above 500 000, Mississippi faces prolonged restoration, Tennessee records its largest single‑event outage, and airlines cancel more than 11 600 flights while dozens of school districts shift to remote learning [5].

Jan 27 2026 – A colossal winter storm leaves at least 30 deaths, drops more than a foot of snow across a 1 300‑mile corridor, knocks out power for over 560 000 homes, forces 12 000+ flight delays/cancellations, and keeps temperatures below freezing as another winter storm looms for the East Coast [6].

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