Deadly Winter Storm Grips US, Millions Without Power

A massive winter storm has swept across the eastern two-thirds of the United States, causing at least seven fatalities and leaving over one million people without power, according to The Guardian on Sunday, January 25, 2026. This severe weather event brought heavy snowfall, dangerous ice, and perilously cold temperatures, impacting travel from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast.

The storm, unofficially named Winter Storm Fern by The Weather Channel, began developing from an upper-level low on January 22, steadily moving eastward across the Central United States. NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) had been tracking this major system, warning of its unusually large and severe nature.

Fatalities have been reported across several states. The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed two deaths in Caddo Parish due to hypothermia, The Guardian reported. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also stated that five individuals were found deceased outdoors in New York City before the snow began, with investigations into their causes of death underway.

Power outages have crippled vast regions, with over one million customers losing electricity. PowerOutage.us data cited by The Guardian indicated more than 900,000 outages by Sunday morning, January 25, primarily concentrated in the Deep South. Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas were among the hardest-hit states, Global News reported.

Air travel experienced significant disruptions, with thousands of flights grounded or canceled. FlightAware data, as reported by CBS News, showed over 11,000 U.S. flights canceled for Sunday, January 25, marking the highest single-day cancellation total since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Total cancellations from Saturday through Monday exceeded 16,000, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The National Weather Service issued warnings for "crippling to locally catastrophic impacts" from widespread, heavy ice accumulation in the Southeast, The Guardian noted. This long-duration storm also brought extreme cold, with wind chills plummeting below -50 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota, CBS News reported.

In response to the widespread emergency, twenty-four U.S. state governors issued emergency declarations, according to wikipedia. Federal assistance was quickly mobilized, with FEMA announcing disaster aid for states like Arkansas and Georgia beginning January 23, 2026.

• The meteorological origins of this powerful system trace back to an upper-level low that formed on January 22, 2026, gradually intensifying as it moved across the central United States. This slow-moving nature allowed for prolonged periods of heavy precipitation and extreme cold, contributing to the severity of its impacts across a 2,000-mile expanse, Wikipedia detailed. The National Weather Service had been closely monitoring its progression, issuing warnings days in advance.

• The economic implications of such a widespread storm are substantial, affecting various sectors. The grounding of over 11,000 flights on Sunday alone, as reported by CBS News, resulted in significant financial losses for airlines and travel-related businesses. Additionally, the extensive power outages disrupt commerce and daily life, with recovery efforts expected to be costly and prolonged, particularly in ice-stricken areas, The Sunday Guardian indicated.

• Government agencies at both federal and state levels have been actively involved in the response. fema confirmed that federal disaster assistance is available to support state, local, and tribal governments in affected areas, with emergency declarations approved for states including Arkansas and Georgia as early as January 23, 2026. The Department of Energy also authorized backup generation resources for Texas and the Mid-Atlantic to mitigate blackouts, The Guardian reported.

• The human toll extends beyond the confirmed fatalities, with many communities facing hazardous conditions. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to stay indoors, highlighting the dangers of extreme cold, especially for vulnerable populations like the homeless, Global News stated. The combination of ice and frigid temperatures poses a significant risk of hypothermia and frostbite, as warned by CBS News.

• The storm's impact on infrastructure, particularly power grids, has been severe. The heavy ice accumulation, especially in the South and Mid-Atlantic, caused trees and power lines to collapse, leading to widespread outages that officials anticipate could last for days, according to The Sunday Guardian. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and PJM Interconnection were granted emergency orders to manage energy supply, The Guardian noted.

• Looking ahead, the lingering effects of the storm, particularly the extreme cold, are expected to persist for several days. CBS News reported that harsh temperatures mean snow and ice will remain on the ground well into the middle of the week, potentially setting record low temperatures across parts of the Southern Plains and Mid-Atlantic. This prolonged cold will continue to challenge recovery efforts and pose risks to public safety.

• The storm's geographic reach was immense, affecting over 230 million Americans across multiple states, fema reported. From the Southern Plains, where snowfall broke daily records in cities like Little Rock and Oklahoma City, to the Northeast, which saw heavy snow in New York and New England, the storm demonstrated its vast and destructive power, according to wikipedia and Climate Impact Company.