Winter Storm Wreaks Havoc Across United States, Claiming Over 25 Lives
A colossal winter storm has swept across large parts of the United States, resulting in a tragic death toll of at least 25 people. The severe weather system has brought heavy snowfall to the Northeast while leaving a trail of lingering destruction in the South, where freezing rain has caused widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of residents.
Snowfall and Travel Disruptions Intensify
The storm's tail end delivered fresh snowfall across the Northeast on Monday, with more than a foot of snow accumulating along a massive 1,300-mile swath stretching from Arkansas to New England. Light to moderate snowfall was expected to continue across New England through Monday evening, exacerbating already challenging conditions.
Travel has been severely disrupted throughout affected regions, with numerous flight cancellations and school closures implemented as deep snow and bitter cold took hold. The National Weather Service reported that areas north of Pittsburgh recorded up to 20 inches of snow, with wind chills plunging to a dangerous minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit late Monday into Tuesday.
Tragic Incidents and Power Outages
Authorities have reported deaths linked to various storm-related incidents, including:
- Snowplough accidents in Massachusetts and Ohio
- Sledding incidents in Arkansas and Texas
- Exposure-related cases, including eight people found dead outdoors in New York City during the frigid weekend
More than 700,000 customers remained without electricity on Monday, with Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas among the worst affected states. The Nashville Electric Service, identified as the hardest-hit utility in the country, announced plans to double its workforce by midday on Monday, deploying nearly 300 line workers across their service area to address the crisis.
Southern States Struggle with Recovery
Parts of Mississippi were struggling to recover on Monday after what officials described as the state's worst ice storm since 1994. Authorities rushed to supply essential items including cots, blankets, bottled water and generators to warming centers in the hardest-hit areas.
At the University of Mississippi, most students remained without power, prompting the cancellation of classes for the entire week. The Oxford campus was still encased in ice, creating hazardous conditions for students and staff.
Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill described the scale of damage as extensive, noting on social media that "it looks like a tornado went down every street," with fallen trees, limbs and power lines strewn across the city.
Northeast Battles Record Snowfall
New York City recorded its heaviest snowfall in years, with 11 inches (28 centimetres) blanketing Central Park. While most main roads were largely cleared by Monday morning, pedestrians struggled through snow-covered sidewalks, and several subway lines with above-ground tracks experienced significant delays.
Air Travel Chaos Nationwide
Air travel was severely disrupted across the country, with more than 8,000 flight delays and cancellations reported across the United States on Monday. The situation was even worse a day earlier, when 45 percent of US flights were cancelled, representing the highest rate of cancellations since the COVID-19 pandemic according to aviation analytics data.
The winter storm continues to impact millions of Americans as emergency services work around the clock to restore power, clear roads, and assist affected communities. Weather officials are monitoring the situation closely as cold temperatures persist across much of the affected regions.
