A massive winter storm blanketed much of the U.S. with sleet, freezing rain, and snow, causing subzero temperatures, widespread power outages for hundreds of thousands, and halting air and road travel across a 2,000-mile stretch from New Mexico to New England. The National Weather Service warned of continued dangerous conditions and bitter cold.
A colossal winter storm swept across the United States on Sunday, unleashing a destructive combination of sleet, freezing rain, and heavy snow from New Mexico to New England, spanning approximately 2,000 miles. The severe weather led to subzero temperatures, brought air and road traffic to a standstill, and caused extensive damage. Tree branches and power lines succumbed to the weight of ice, plunging hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, particularly in the Southeast, Tennessee, and Mississippi, into darkness. The National Weather Service forecast continued ice and snowfall into Monday, followed by dangerously low temperatures that could prolong "dangerous travel and infrastructure impacts." President Donald Trump issued emergency declarations for at least a dozen states, and FEMA pre-positioned rescue teams. Specific impacts included record-breaking subzero temperatures in northern New York (Watertown -34F, Copenhagen -49F), widespread flight cancellations (11,500) and delays (16,000), and numerous reports from residents detailing snapped trees, impassable roads, and fears of prolonged power outages. The meteorologists warned that the ensuing bitter cold across the eastern two-thirds of the nation would prevent rapid melting of ice and snow, further complicating power restoration efforts.
