A colossal winter storm continued to batter large parts of the United States, dumping heavy snow across the Northeast and coating portions of the South in ice, while plunging temperatures left millions struggling through freezing conditions. At least 30 deaths have been reported nationwide as the storm’s impact stretched from Arkansas to New England.
More than a foot of snow fell across a 1,300-mile swath of the country, halting road travel, canceling flights, and forcing widespread school closures. According to the National Weather Service, areas north of Pittsburgh recorded up to 20 inches of snow, while wind chills dipped as low as minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit late Monday into Tuesday.
Forecasters warned that the dangerous cold is far from over, with another surge of Arctic air expected to maintain freezing temperatures in already snow- and ice-covered regions. There is also concern that another winter storm could impact parts of the East Coast later this week.
Hundreds of Thousands Without Power as Ice Storm Ravages the South
Power outages remained widespread Monday evening, with more than 560,000 customers still without electricity, according to PowerOutage.com. The majority of outages were concentrated in the South, where freezing rain snapped tree limbs and downed power lines across northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee.
Mississippi officials described the storm as the state’s worst ice event since 1994, scrambling to deliver cots, blankets, bottled water, and generators to emergency warming shelters. Gov. Tate Reeves reported significant damage to homes, businesses, and public roads.
The University of Mississippi canceled classes for the entire week after its Oxford campus was encased in ice. Local officials described neighborhoods littered with fallen trees and power lines, comparing the destruction to tornado damage.
Meanwhile, flight disruptions rippled nationwide. More than 12,000 flights were delayed or canceled Monday, with major travel hubs such as Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport severely affected. Aviation analysts said Sunday marked the highest U.S. flight cancellation rate since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Extreme Cold Claims Lives Across Multiple States
The storm’s deadly toll continued to rise as frigid temperatures followed in its wake. Authorities reported fatalities caused by hypothermia, traffic accidents, sledding incidents, and snowplow collisions across several states.
Eight people were found dead outdoors in New York City during the frigid weekend, while police in Kansas discovered the body of a woman buried in snow after she was last seen leaving a bar without a coat or phone. Fatal snowplow accidents were reported in Massachusetts and Ohio, and teenagers died in sledding incidents in Arkansas and Texas.
Officials confirmed deaths in Tennessee, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Kentucky as temperatures across the Lower 48 states plunged to their coldest average lows since January 2014.
Meteorologists warned residents to remain cautious as bitter cold, lingering ice, and additional snowfall continue to pose life-threatening risks in many regions.
