Washington: A massive winter storm sweeping across the United States has forced airlines to cancel nearly 13,000 flights over the weekend, as extreme weather conditions brought widespread power outages, treacherous road conditions and severe disruptions to daily life.
From the southern Rockies to New England, roughly 140 million people—representing over 40 per cent of the country’s population—remained under winter storm warnings. Meteorologists forecast a prolonged spell of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain lasting through Monday, accompanied by biting cold that could significantly slow recovery efforts.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm’s scale and intensity are unusual, covering nearly 2,000 miles and impacting multiple regions simultaneously. Meteorologist Allison Santorelli cautioned that lingering ice and snow would delay restoration work and heighten risks for days.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for more than a dozen states, enabling rapid deployment of federal resources. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mobilised personnel, relief supplies and rescue teams to support state authorities. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urged residents to remain indoors wherever possible, stressing safety amid worsening conditions.
Several southern states were among the hardest hit. Texas and Louisiana together reported close to 100,000 power failures as ice-laden trees snapped and brought down electrical lines. In Shelby County, Texas, nearly one-third of residents were left without electricity, while officials described widespread damage to infrastructure and blocked roads. Similar scenes were reported in parts of Louisiana, where fallen trees damaged vehicles and homes.
Air travel faced unprecedented disruption. Major hubs including Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville and Charlotte experienced mass cancellations, while Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers International Airport suspended all scheduled flights for Saturday and Sunday morning. At Washington’s Reagan National Airport, nearly all departures planned for Sunday were called off by late Saturday.
Authorities in Georgia warned residents to stay off roads, particularly in northern areas expected to endure one of the region’s most severe ice storms in over a decade. Highway officials deployed more than 1,800 workers to treat roads with anti-icing agents, but acknowledged the challenge posed by freezing rain.
As the storm advances northeast, forecasters predict snowfall totals of up to two feet in parts of Washington, New York and Boston. Officials in New York City appealed to residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors to prevent accidents.
Meanwhile, the Midwest and northern states faced extreme cold, with wind chills plunging to minus 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. In Wisconsin, temperatures dropped to their lowest in nearly 30 years, raising concerns about frostbite and hypothermia.
Weather experts described the storm as rare due to its vast reach and combined effects of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Emergency services across affected regions remain on high alert as communities brace for continued disruptions and hazardous conditions in the days ahead.
