A colossal winter storm brought deep snow to the Northeast and crippling freezing rain to the South, resulting in at least 18 weather-related deaths, over 800,000 power outages, widespread travel disruptions, and record-breaking cold temperatures across much of the U.S.
The U.S. was battered by a colossal winter storm that brought significant snowfall to the Northeast and severe freezing rain to the South, leading to widespread chaos and at least 18 weather-related deaths. The Northeast experienced over a foot of snow, halting traffic, canceling flights, and closing schools across a 1,300-mile swath from Arkansas to New England, with New York City seeing its snowiest day in years with 11 inches. In the South, particularly northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee, freezing rain caused over 800,000 power outages as tree limbs and power lines snapped, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity, some for potentially over a week. Residents described the damage as resembling a tornado. Nationwide, more than 6,400 flights were delayed or canceled. Following the storm, bitter cold gripped much of the nation, with many communities experiencing subzero temperatures, marking the coldest average low temperature for the Lower 48 states since January 2014.
