Historic Winter Storm Paralyzes Eastern US with Massive Power Outages and Travel Chaos
A massive and dangerous winter storm system has swept across the eastern two-thirds of the United States, leaving a trail of disruption and prompting widespread emergency declarations. As of Sunday morning EST, more than 800,000 customers were without electricity nationwide, according to data from PowerOutage.us reported by Reuters. The storm, bringing heavy snowfall, sleet, freezing rain, and dangerously cold temperatures, has also crippled air travel, with over 10,100 flights canceled on Sunday alone, following thousands more the previous day.
Widespread Power Grid Failures and Emergency Federal Response
Power outages mounted rapidly as the storm intensified, with Tennessee accounting for at least 300,000 outages. Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana each reported over 100,000 customers without power, while Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama were also significantly affected. In response to the escalating crisis, the US Department of Energy (DOE) issued emergency orders over the weekend to bolster grid reliability.
On Saturday, the DOE authorized the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to deploy backup generation at data centers and other large facilities. The following day, it granted PJM Interconnection similar authority to operate specified resources across the mid-Atlantic region, even if that meant bypassing certain state or environmental restrictions to maintain essential power supply.
Federal Emergency Declarations and State Preparations
Describing the approaching storms as “historic,” President Donald Trump on Saturday approved federal emergency disaster declarations for multiple states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. This move allows federal assistance to support local response efforts as states brace for severe weather conditions and potential widespread disruptions.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have declared weather emergencies, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). At a news conference on Saturday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem urged Americans to prepare for extreme conditions, stating, "It’s going to be very, very cold. So we'd encourage everybody to stock up on fuel, stock up on food, and we will get through this together."
Severe Weather Forecasts and Crippling Impacts
The National Weather Service warned that this unusually widespread and long-lasting winter storm would bring heavy ice accumulation across the Southeast, with "crippling to locally catastrophic impacts" possible. Forecasters also predicted record low temperatures and dangerous wind chills spreading into the Great Plains by Monday, exacerbating the hazardous conditions.
Electric utilities heightened precautions in anticipation of the storm's severity. Dominion Energy noted that if ice forecasts hold, this event could rank among the most significant winter storms ever to affect its Virginia service area, which includes the world’s largest concentration of data centers, highlighting the potential for critical infrastructure disruption.
Major Air Travel Disruptions and Airline Responses
Air travel faced massive disruption, with FlightAware reporting over 10,100 cancellations for Sunday following more than 4,000 on Saturday. Airlines moved quickly to adjust operations and warn passengers of sudden schedule changes.
- Delta Air Lines added cancellations in Atlanta and along the East Coast, including Boston and New York City, while shifting cold-weather specialists to southern airports to assist with de-icing and baggage handling.
- JetBlue canceled around 1,000 flights through Monday.
- United Airlines reported proactive cancellations in the hardest-hit regions to minimize passenger inconvenience and ensure safety.
As the storm continues to unfold, authorities emphasize the importance of safety and preparedness. President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, stated, "We will continue to monitor, and stay in touch with all States in the path of this storm. Stay Safe, and Stay Warm." The situation remains fluid, with residents across the eastern US urged to heed warnings and take necessary precautions against the severe winter weather.
