Massive Winter Storm Sweeps Across United States, Affecting Tens of Millions
A powerful winter storm has swept across the United States, bringing heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and dangerous conditions from the southwest to the northeast. The storm, which began impacting New Mexico and Texas on Saturday, January 24, 2026, is moving towards the northeast and has already affected tens of millions of Americans.
Widespread Impact and Emergency Declarations
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a stark warning, stating that up to 240 million Americans could be affected by this massive weather system. In response to the severe conditions, at least 16 states and the US capital Washington have declared states of emergency. The National Weather Service (NWS) urged residents to take the storm seriously, predicting an astonishingly long swath of snowfall stretching from New Mexico all the way to Maine.
The US federal government has preemptively announced that offices in Washington will be closed on Monday due to the anticipated severe weather conditions. This proactive measure aims to ensure safety and minimize disruption as the storm continues to intensify.
Transportation Chaos and Power Outages
The storm has caused significant transportation disruptions across the country. According to flight tracking service FlightAware, more than 3,900 flights in and out of the United States were cancelled on Saturday alone, with an additional 3,000 flights experiencing delays. This massive disruption has created chaos for travelers during what is typically a busy travel period.
Power outages have also become a major concern. As of Saturday afternoon, nearly 130,000 US customers were without electricity, according to tracking site poweroutage.us. Texas and neighboring Louisiana reported particularly severe outages, with over 50,000 customers affected in each state. The storm is straining power systems across affected regions, creating additional challenges for residents.
Snow Accumulation and Dangerous Conditions
The National Weather Service has forecasted huge snowfall in some areas, with potentially catastrophic ice accumulations in others. Snow has already hit Oklahoma and Arkansas, where some locations recorded six inches (15 centimeters) of accumulation on the ground. After battering the country's southwest and central areas, the storm system is expected to hit the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states before a frigid air mass settles in.
The weather service warned that the snow and sleet impacts will linger well into next week with rounds of re-freezing that keeps surfaces icy and dangerous to both drive and walk on for the foreseeable future. This extended period of hazardous conditions poses significant risks to public safety and daily activities.
Preparation and Public Response
In anticipation of the severe weather, Americans have been preparing extensively. Shoppers stripped supermarket shelves of supplies as warnings about potentially catastrophic winter weather circulated. The NWS forecast prompted widespread concern about transportation chaos, blackouts, and life-threatening cold temperatures affecting at least 160 million people across the country.
Residents in affected areas have been taking precautions, with scenes of people shopping for supplies at stores like Home Depot in Falls Church, Virginia, and crews working to clear snow from sidewalks in Kansas City, Missouri. The storm's impact is visible across multiple states, from snow-covered streets in Kansas City to aerial views of Tulsa, Oklahoma, blanketed in white.
As the winter storm continues its path across the United States, authorities are urging residents to stay informed, avoid unnecessary travel, and take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this severe weather event.
