Approximately 140 million people were placed under winter storm warnings from New Mexico to New England. The National Weather Service predicts heavy snowfall and a hazardous band of ice extending from east Texas to North Carolina.
Forecasters indicate that potential damage, especially in ice-stricken areas, could resemble that of a hurricane. Ice and sleet impacting northern Texas overnight were moving toward the central region on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.
“Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills are moving into the area and will persist through Monday,” the agency noted on X. Low temperatures are expected to hover in the single digits for the following nights, with wind chills dropping as low as minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 24 Celsius).
Snow and sleet continued to affect Oklahoma.
Also Read: Iran will treat any attack as ‘all-out war against us,’ says senior Iran official
After moving through the South, the storm is anticipated to progress into the Northeast, with predictions of nearly a foot (30 centimeters) of snow from Washington to New York and Boston. Temperatures in rural Lewis County and other regions of upstate New York dipped to minus 29 F (minus 34 C) just before dawn following days of heavy snowfall.
Governors across more than a dozen states have raised concerns about the impending severe weather, declaring emergencies or advising residents to stay home. Texas Governor Greg Abbott informed citizens on X that the state’s Department of Transportation is pre-treating roads and advised, “Stay home if possible.”
Flight tracking website FlightAware reported over 3,300 flights were delayed or canceled on Saturday, with nearly 6,000 cancellations for Sunday.
Angela Exstrom was scheduled to fly back to Omaha, Nebraska, from Mexico but discovered her Saturday flight from Houston was canceled. Consequently, she decided to return via Los Angeles. “If you live in the Midwest and travel during winter, things can go awry,” she commented.
Frigid temperatures and ice
Utility companies are preparing for power outages, as ice-laden trees and power lines may continue to fall even after the storm has moved on. The Midwest experienced wind chills plummeting to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 Celsius), raising the risk of frostbite in just 10 minutes.
Also Read: US sees path to removing India tariff linked to Russian oil, says Scott Bessent
In Bismarck, North Dakota, where wind chills reached minus 41 (minus 41 Celsius), Colin Cross was bundled up on Friday in long johns, two long-sleeve shirts, a jacket, hat, hood, gloves, and boots while clearing out an vacant unit in the apartment complex where he works. “I’ve been here a while, and my brain stopped working,” Cross joked.
The storm has dominated conversations for days at Saint Paul Mini Market in Baltimore. “Every single person that walks in talks about the storm,” remarked owner Ayaz Ahmed.
“This time around, they have done a good job alerting people about the approaching storm, and everyone is aware, but figuring out how to manage it is another challenge,” Ahmed added.
Government prepares to respond
The federal government has activated nearly 30 search and rescue teams on standby. Officials have positioned over 7 million meals, 600,000 blankets, and 300 generators throughout the storm’s expected path, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
President Donald Trump stated on social media Friday that his administration is coordinating with state and local officials, and “FEMA is fully prepared to respond.”
Post-storm, it will take time to thaw out. Ice can add significant weight to power lines and branches, making them more likely to break, especially in windy conditions. In at least 11 Southern states from Texas to Virginia, most homes are heated by electricity, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
A severe cold snap five years ago crippled much of Texas’s power grid, leaving millions without electricity for days and causing numerous fatalities. Abbott assured that this scenario will not repeat, and utility companies are mobilizing thousands of workers to assist in maintaining power.
Church, Carnival, and classes canceled
Churches shifted Sunday services online, and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, opted to conduct its Saturday night radio performance without an audience. Carnival parades in Louisiana were canceled or postponed.
Philadelphia announced that schools would be closed on Monday. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. encouraged students, “It’s also appropriate to have one or two very safe snowball fights.”
Also Read: Davos 2026 | Bank of America CEO sees US growth beating expectations this year
Several universities in the South canceled classes for Monday, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Mississippi’s main campus in Oxford.
At the University of Georgia in Athens, sophomore Eden England chose to stay on campus with friends, despite the school advising students to leave dorms due to concerns over power outages. “I’d rather be with my friends,” England noted, “kind of struggling together if anything happens.”
