Winter storm: Death toll rises as winter storm continues dumping snow across the U.S
Catch up with NBC News Clone on today's hot topic: Winter Storm Live Updates Rcna255781 - Weather and Climate | NBC News Clone. Our editorial team reformatted this story for clarity and speed.
Heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain are slamming large parts of the U.S. as the dangerously cold weather causes major power outages and travel disruptions.
This liveblog has now ended — follow the latest updates here.
What we know
- Roughly 185 million people are under winter alerts today as dangerous cold grips much of the central and eastern U.S. Wind chills in some areas are as low as the minus 20s and minus 30s, and temperatures are 10 to 40 degrees below average.
- The weather has been blamed for the deaths of seven people, three in Tennessee, two in Louisiana, one in Texas, and one in Kansas, according to local officials.
- In areas affected by the storm, more than 860,000 customers are without power.
- Freezing rain was falling in parts of Georgia through the Carolinas and the mid-Atlantic region, with heavy snow throughout the Ohio Valley and the Northeast. Nearly 17 inches of snow has fallen in parts of Ohio.
- The most persistent snow will target parts of New England through tomorrow night. Snow totals of 16 to 24 inches will be possible in Boston and Albany, New York. Hartford, Connecticut, and Portland, Maine, could get as much as 12 to 18 inches.
- Conditions will gradually improve this week, though snow and bitter cold may linger.
- The storm has also hampered air travel. More than 12,000 scheduled flights today have been canceled, along with over 3,000 tomorrow.
Texas ranchers rescue a cow from freezing water
Two ranchers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area stepped into freezing water to rescue a cow.
They put a container over the animal’s head and led it to shore with a rope, according to footage shared with NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
After some mooing in the water, the cow appeared to make it safely to solid ground.
Olympic gold medalist Shaun White hits Central Park
Visitors to New York City’s Central Park were treated to a world-class spectacle this afternoon as five-time Olympian Shaun White made an appearance, performing tricks in the snow in front of a small crowd.
Video recorded by Upper East Side resident Nick Synan shows a small crowd gathering to watch the snowboarding legend.
“I noticed one guy flying down the hill and doing a cool trick,” Synan said. “When he took his helmet off, I realized it was Shaun White and was in total shock.”
“He continued snowboarding with others for another hour or so. It was such an awesome afternoon,” he added.
Photos show a large tree collapsed on a home in Knoxville, displacing 4
The Knoxville Fire Department in Tennessee shared photos of a large tree that fell and destroyed a home around 3:30 p.m. in today's storm.
Four people were displaced, along with two dogs, the department said.
3 weather-related deaths reported in Tennessee
Tennessee has reported three weather-related deaths as the winter blast continues to batter a large part of the U.S.
One person died in Crockett, another in Haywood and the third in Obion, according to the Tennessee Health Department.
They bring the total number of deaths connected to the storm to at least seven across the country. Two people died in Louisiana, one in Texas and one in Kansas, according to local officials.
Woman dies after snowplow truck strikes her and her husband in Massachusetts
A woman has died after a snowplow truck struck her and her husband in Massachusetts.
The woman, 51, and her husband, 47, were walking through the parking lot of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Commuter Rail Norwood Central station around 2 p.m. today when they were hit by a Ford F350 plow truck that was driving in reverse, the MBTA Transit Police Department said.
The woman died of her injuries, and the man was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
The truck was being driven by a non-MBTA employee contracted by a private company for snow removal, the department said. The plow operator, 33, was cooperative with detectives, according to authorities.
The incident is under investigation.
“This is an unimaginable horrific incident," police said in a statement. "On behalf of the Transit Police and the entire MBTA organization we express our most sincere condolences to the victim’s family and friends. Our thought and prayers are with them."
Frigid conditions expected tonight as temperatures stay 10 to 40 degrees below average
Tonight will bring little relief to many states in the path of this weekend’s winter storm. Around 136 million people from the Southern Plains to the Northeast will remain under cold weather alerts as frigid temperatures stay 10 to 40 degrees below average.
Numerous low temperature records could be set tonight in cities such as Dallas, Houston and Austin, Texas; New Orleans; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Periods of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain will persist across the Northeast this evening and into tomorrow. Some scattered snow showers may continue tomorrow morning in New York, New England and the Appalachians, ending early Tuesday.
Some areas in the South are at risk of severe weather this evening, with a tornado watch in effect for parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
As of this afternoon, snow reports included 16.6 inches of accumulation in Davis, West Virginia; 15 inches in Midland, Pennsylvania; 13.5 inches in Columbus, Indiana; 13.4 inches in Oblong, Illinois; and 7.2 inches in New York City.
Sledding, snowshoeing and skiing in Central Park
There's something about a snowstorm that brings a community together — and today, kids and adults alike tromped through a thick blanket of snow to Central Park.
New Yorkers sledded down hills, delighting in the snowy fun with absolute strangers. Others snowshoed around the Central Park reservoir. And some New Yorkers even cross-country skied through the park.
For some of the youngest, it was the most snow they'd ever seen — and they stared wide-eyed at the snow-covered trees and ground, taking it all in.
Ice pummels Mississippi
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said he was not aware of any weather-related deaths from one of the worst ice storms to pummel the state in decades but warned that harsh conditions were expected to continue this week.
Nearly half of the Southern state’s counties have reported ice, Reeves said at a news briefing late this afternoon, and more than 159,000 utility customers were still without power tonight.
One utility near the Mississippi-Tennessee border said this morning that it was "looking at weeks instead of days to restore power to every member."
Reeves said the state has been in communication with utilities, but he held back from forecasting how long it could take to restore power.
In some of the most affected areas in North Mississippi, he said, conditions have been too precarious for crews to do full assessments. Even without rain, refreezing could occur as temperatures drop, he cautioned.
“We haven’t seen a storm of this magnitude since 1994,” Reeves said.
In a state where the kindness of strangers can be lifesaving in the aftermath of hurricanes and tornadoes, officials acknowledged that residents may be eager to help or thank first responders, but they pleaded with Mississippians to stay off the roads.
“My four-wheel drive that the state of Mississippi provides me does not go on ice. It does not,” warned Stephen McCraney, executive director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. "So that's something you've got to be aware of. If you've got a vehicle, ice is not a good place."
Video shows crews clearing highway in Dallas
The Texas Department of Transportation is brining, plowing and blading highways in Dallas following heavy snow overnight.
The agency posted a video of crews at work and discouraged people from traveling. "If you have to travel, give our crews room to work safely," the post said.
Outages ease, but over 867,000 customers still without power
The number of reported power outages has dropped over the last few hours, but more than 867,000 customers are still without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.
The hardest-hit states continue to be Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, where nearly 568,000 customers were without power shortly before 9 p.m. ET.
Power outages by state:
Tennessee: 285,496
Mississippi: 154,800
Louisiana: 127,601
Texas: 69,904
Kentucky: 52,669
South Carolina: 46,407
Georgia: 44,464
North Carolina: 29,651
Woman found dead and covered in snow in Kansas
The body of a Kansas woman last seen late Friday and reported missing yesterday was found covered in snow near her last known location, with authorities saying she most likely died of hypothermia.
Police in Emporia, a small city between Wichita and Topeka, said the body of Rebecca Rauber, 28, was discovered today in woods near a city street, about 300 yards from where she was last seen on video.
"At this time, it appears, Rebecca may have succumbed to hypothermia early on in her disappearance as she was covered in snow due to the snowstorm that became heavy on Saturday," police said.
Temperatures dipped to 0 degrees yesterday morning, with a windchill of minus 18 and light snow reported, according to National Weather Service data.
Rauber was reported missing shortly after 1 a.m. yesterday, Emporia police said previously. She had left a local bar without her jacket, purse or phone and was seen walking in the area shortly after 11:30 p.m. Friday, the police department said.
The Kansas Highway Patrol, the Lyon County Sheriff’s office, county dispatchers and community members were involved in the search, with police viewing private security video to estimate her whereabouts. An investigation into her death continues, police said.
"Our hearts and prayers are truly with the Rauber family," the department said.
Rauber's death is the fourth believed to be associated with the weekend's snowstorm and related fronts that stretched across the eastern two-thirds of the contiguous United States.
Big snow amounts span country, from New Mexico to the East Coast
Winter weather connected otherwise distant sections of the country today as big snow totals were recorded from New Mexico to New Jersey.
Federal forecasters cited a "reinforcing arctic front" in the West, behind the East Coast's main snowmaker, for deep snow near Bonito Lake, New Mexico, where a whopping 31 inches of snow fell, according to the National Weather Service.
A location near Crested Butte, Colorado, recorded 23 inches of snow, the weather service's accounting of 24-hour amounts shows.
Stockholm, New Jersey, about 45 miles northwest of New York City, and Grove City, Pennsylvania, about 60 miles north of Pittsburgh, both posted 17 inches of snow, according to the weather service.
Other locations in Pennsylvania, along with locations in Ohio and West Virginia, all recorded 24-hour snow amounts of 16 inches or greater, according to the weather service.
More than 10,000 flights were canceled and thousands were delayed across the U.S. today as the massive winter storm swept across the country. NBC News’ Valerie Castro reports.
More than 360 crashes reported in Indiana
Troopers in Indiana have responded to 363 crashes throughout the state since yesterday, state police said this evening.
That number doesn't include crashes to which other law enforcement agencies responded.
Indiana is one of 23 states that have declared emergencies because of the bout of severe winter weather. Nine to 14-plus inches of snow have fallen in parts of the state since yesterday.
Central Park experiences largest snowstorm since 2021
The storm is the largest snow maker for New York City's Central Park since one in late January and early February 2021.
The storm put 8.8 inches of snow on the ground in Central Park by 4:15 p.m. today, according to National Weather Service data, still well short of the 17.4 inches of snow that fell during the 2021 storm.
The figures for today and 2021 melt in comparison with the record-holder, however: A historic blizzard in late January 2016 put down a whopping 27.5 inches of snow in the park, according to the weather service.
New York State Police respond to about 250 crashes in storm
Troopers have responded to about 250 crashes across New York during the storm, according to state police.
About 20 involved injuries but no deaths, state police said.
Balloon release knocked out power for roughly 5,000 customers, LG&E says
Foil balloons were released by a group in a Louisville neighborhood yesterday, coming into contact with electric equipment and knocking power out for roughly 5,000 customers, Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities said.
“We want to remind customers not to release foil balloons into the air," the utilities company said on X. "Foil balloons conduct electricity and can cause power outages, fires, and injuries if they come into contact with power lines.”
More than 55,000 customers are without power across Kentucky, according to PowerOutage.us, as the storm is expected to be passing through the state until early tomorrow.
Mississippi resident says neighbors fled to her house after tree collapsed on theirs
Jane Carlisle Hubbard, who lives in New Albany, Mississippi, lost power around 3 a.m. last night. She said she spent most of the day watching tree limbs fall and power lines collapse.
“We had a tree fall on our neighbor’s house and destroyed basically the back part of their house. They are over here staying with us until they can work something out,” Hubbard told NBC News. “We are being told it will be days before power is restored, possibly a week.”
Hubbard said her household stocked up on food and supplies last week, although she believes the power outages will last longer than much of her community had anticipated.
Video from NBC meteorologist shows snow pileup on Manhattan subway platform
Snow in the subway? Sure. Why not?
NBC New York's Matt Brickman shared a video of some unexpected weather in New York City — a blanket of snow on the subway platform.
“My bad. I failed to forecast the multiple inches of snow that would fall inside the subway station,” Brickman wrote in a caption on Instagram.
Georgia expects to get freezing rain
Georgia officials warned at a news briefing this afternoon that the state is still not in the clear when it comes to this weekend's winter storm.
Another round of freezing rain is expected to hit northeastern Georgia later this afternoon, which can cause a "refreeze" by tomorrow morning, making roads even more dangerous.
"Please continue to stay off the roads as much as possible," Georgia emergency management chief Josh Lamb said at the briefing. "This will give Georgia DOT [Department of Transportation]) crews the room they need to maintain the condition of the roads. If travel is necessary, slow down, allow extra time and be especially careful on bridges and overpasses as they freeze."
The state is also experiencing an uptick in power outages. As of this evening, over 105,000 utility customers are without power, according to PowerOutage.US.
Since 6 p.m. yesterday, the Department of Public Safety has received 775 calls, 25 of which were for crashes and 95 of which were for motorists in need of assistance.
Over 11,800 flights canceled in U.S.
Over 11,800 flights within, into or out of the U.S. have been canceled thus far today and over 3,500 have been delayed as of this afternoon, according to FlightAware.
It is the most airline flight cancellations since March 27, 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the highest number of cancellations was 10,637.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport had the most cancellations.
Earlier today, Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, announced all commercial flight departures have been canceled for the day. All flights out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the Virginia suburbs of D.C. have also been canceled.
NBA delays tonight's game between Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks
Today’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks has been postponed, the NBA announced this afternoon.
NBA officials said the Mavericks are unable to leave Dallas because of the winter storm. They were scheduled to tip off against the Bucks this evening at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum.
Details about the rescheduled game will be announced later, the NBA said.
Earlier, the league also said today’s game between the Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies would be postponed.
Scheduling changes were also announced this afternoon for two of tomorrow's games. The Indiana Pacers-at-Atlanta Hawks matchup will now begin at 1:30 p.m. ET, and the Philadelphia 76ers-at-Charlotte Hornets game will now be at 3 p.m. ET.
One person found dead in Austin, Texas
A person was found dead in Austin, Texas, this morning, according to Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.
The person, who was not identified, was found unresponsive at an abandoned gas station and pronounced dead at 6:27 a.m., per EMS. The cause of death is not clear.
"Due to the circumstances, we presume that the cause was hypothermia," Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said. "However, I must stress that Austin-Travis County EMS does not officially rule on causes of death. Only the medical examiner can make that determination."
The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Boston could get 23 inches of snow — which would make the top 10
The National Weather Service office in Boston has increased the city’s snow forecast to 23 inches.
If it reaches above 22.4 inches, it’ll make Boston’s all-time two-day snowfall top 10 list.
The record for the city is 27.6 inches.
Snowy fun in the nation's capital
Washington, D.C., may be getting slammed with snow, but the storm has brought out a more playful side to the city’s residents, with many gathering to toboggan down the U.S. Capitol’s hill this afternoon.
People brought sleds, boogie boards, an inflatable hot dog, a baking sheet — whatever they could get their hands on to have a little fun in a city typically known for bipartisan rancor.
Indiana firefighters rescue driver from car buried in snow
As snow fell overnight in Greensburg, Indiana, local firefighters rescued a driver from a car that had become buried in the accumulation. The driver was the only occupant, according the fire department, and had minor injuries.
“It’s imperative during extreme winter weather to stay off of the roads,” Greensburg Fire Department wrote in a social media post, adding that “road conditions are dangerous and will be through the rest of today.”
New Jersey Transit services suspended for rest of day
New Jersey Transit bus, rail, light rail and access link service is temporarily suspended through the rest of Sunday.
It will remain suspended "until conditions safely allow for the gradual resumption of service," NJ Transit said on X.
NJ Transit will provide updates on whether Monday service will run.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu encouraged residents to stay inside as 3 inches of snow are forecast to fall per hour. NBC News' Erin McLaughlin reports that residents say the low temperatures are the worst of the storm and they plan to “hunker down” inside.
All departure flights canceled at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Ky.
All of today’s commercial flights out of Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, have been canceled. Officials said travelers should continue to monitor for disruptions or delays tomorrow.
In a post on X, the airport showed crews clearing snow and ice from runways and around terminal facilities.
Mississippi resident shares photos of downed power lines and trees blocking roads and homes
Jasmine Guess, a resident of Minona, Mississippi, is surrounded by downed trees and power lines blocking the road. She said her power has been out for 18 hours.
A fallen tree on an SUV in Winona, Miss. Jasmine Guess
“I have been looking for a hotel to go to just in case. The roads have to stay clear though,” Guess told NBC News. “We made preparations and are holding up fine. My property is full of trees, so that concerns me."
A downed tree on an SUV in Winona, Miss., on Jan. 25. Jasmine Guess
Downed trees and power lines in Winona, Miss., on Jan. 25. Jasmine Guess
Downed trees and power lines in Winona, Miss., on Jan. 25. Jasmine Guess
All public transit services suspended in Charlotte, N.C.
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) has suspended all transportation services today, with service expected to start up again at 10 a.m. local time tomorrow.
Officials said they expect continued detours and delays tomorrow on roads that remain hazardous, and added that there will be no Express Bus Service on Monday.
“As conditions evolve, CATS staff remains on standby and ready to assist with transit services as required for emergency operations,” the transit service said in a statement.
The system’s Blue Line light rail ice cutter trains are still operating.
CATS is providing updates on its Inclement Weather Alerts page.
More than 1 million customers without power across U.S.
A total of 1,018,477 customers are without power across the U.S., according to poweroutage.us.
Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana are currently experiencing the most outages and also have the highest ice reports at this time. Ice buildup on power lines and tree limbs can add weight that eventually pulls lines down, causing power outages.
Power outages by state:
Tennessee: 306,722
Mississippi: 175,276
Louisiana: 145,105
Texas: 93,039
Georgia: 80,748
Kentucky: 69,461
West Virginia: 35,519
Alabama: 31,760
Coast Guard assists 650-foot ship stuck in ice on Lake Michigan
A U.S. Coast Guard cutter broke through ice on Lake Michigan to free a 650-foot cargo ship near Beaver Island.
"The Mackinaw arrived on scene & freed the vessel from the ice, assisting it back to navigable waters," read a post on X announcing the operation's success.
NYC mayor announces suspended ferry service
The NYC Ferry has suspended service. The Staten Island Ferry, which is a different service, moved to hourly service beginning at 12:00 p.m., Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X.
Outages in Nashville could last 'days or longer,' electric service says
As the number of power outages rises across the South, more than 337,000 customers are now without power in Tennessee, including nearly 200,000 in Nashville. The outage there could span "days or longer," according to the Nashville Electric Service.
“The combination of freezing rain and ice has impacted the NES service territory overnight, with trees being weighed down by ice causing them to snap and take down power lines,” the NES wrote in an outage alert, adding that its teams and contract crews are working in extended shifts to respond to outages.
Al Roker shovels snow off the sidewalk in NYC
"TODAY" weather anchor Al Roker was out shoveling snow this morning in New York, sharing videos of himself standing on the sidewalk under a flurry of snow.
“This snow is so light and fluffy because it’s so cold,” he shared in one video, before scraping the sidewalk with his shovel.
“It’s beautiful out,” Roker said in another video. “The streets, they have been working on them and doing a good job.”
Texas resident shares video of outage caused by icy power lines
Elizabeth Sprayberry-Alsup is waiting out her third power outage of the weekend, caused by icy power lines. The Henderson, Texas, resident told NBC News that her household has a generator but is running low on gas.
“We are 10 miles from town, which is the nearest station with available gas,” she wrote. “Last snowmagedon we [needed] propane and was town bound and had a bad wreck. So we are gunshy driving in this.”
NBA: Today's game between Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies postponed
Today’s game between the Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies at Memphis’ FedExForum has been postponed because of the winter storm.
The NBA said in a statement that the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time.
Dallas power grid is holding up, but highways remain dangerously icy
Highways in Dallas are dangerously snowy and icy, and some of the city’s busiest highway ramps and bridges have been barricaded to protect drivers. Residents seem to be mostly heeding the advice of local officials to stay home and off the roads, but some accidents have been spotted on highways, along with stalled cars and even people walking away from their cars in these hazardous conditions.
Dozens of school districts in Dallas have declared a snow day tomorrow, and some families are bringing their kids out to play in the snow. One family was spotted using cardboard as an impromptu sled, as stores don’t tend to stock many sleds here in Texas.
So far, the state’s power grid system seems to be holding up well. As of midday, there are just over 100,000 people without power in Texas, with the most severe outages concentrated in rural eastern parts of the state.
LaGuardia Airport is closed
New York City's LaGuardia Airport is closed, according to an update from the Federal Aviation Administration this afternoon.
The FAA did not share a reason for the closure. A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the closure in an email to NBC News.
185 million people across the country remain under winter weather alerts
A huge swath of the country is being hit with snow, sleet and freezing rain, as 185 million people from New Mexico to Maine remain under winter weather alerts.
Preliminary snow observations include 13 inches in Frichton, Indiana; 11 inches in Johnston City, Illinois; 11 inches in Beavercreek, Ohio; 10.4 inches in Batesville, Indiana; and 8.5 inches in Springfield, Missouri.
The highest ice reports at this time have come out of Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. The Nashville metro area, for instance, recorded ice accretion of 0.5 to 0.75 inches as of this morning.
Snow is forecast to continue this afternoon into Monday morning for the eastern half of the country, with the heaviest additional snowfall accumulation expected in parts of the Ohio Valley through the Northeast.
Forecasts show anywhere from 10 to 12 inches in Cleveland, 16 to 22 inches in Boston, 7 to 10 inches in both New York City and Philadelphia, 10 to 12 inches in Buffalo, New York, and 1 to 3 inches in Washington, D.C.
Ice and falling tree limbs knock out power for some customers in Chattanooga
Power lines dragged down by ice and falling tree branches knocked out electricity for some customers in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area, prompting emergency repairs by EPB Chattanooga, the utility said.
In a video posted to Facebook, EPB showed workers repair downed lines as winter weather continued to weigh on the system. The utility company said ice buildup on power lines and tree limbs can add significant weight, pull lines down and cause power outages.
Crews are working “as quickly as possible” to restore power, EPB said.
Five reported dead in New York City over the weekend
Five people were reported dead in New York City over the weekend amid freezing temperatures and snowfall, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during a news briefing today.
Mamdani did not confirm the causes of death, or whether the deaths were weather-related.
“While we do not yet know their causes of death, there is no more powerful reminder of the danger of extreme cold and how vulnerable many of our neighbors are, especially homeless New Yorkers," Mamdani said.
Mamdani added that it does not appear at this time that any of the victims were homeless.
NYC expects to receive up to 11 inches of snow
Snow has been falling consistently in New York City since the early morning, and the region is expecting an accumulation of about 11 inches, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a news briefing this afternoon.
"We anticipate continued heavy snowfall this afternoon, with several hours of sustained 35 mph wind gusts around 8 p.m. this evening," Mamdani said. "Light freezing rain will begin to fall and continue overnight."
While the weather is expected to taper off tomorrow, light snow, a freezing drizzle and intensely cold temperatures are still expected, Mamdani said.
Ten "warming centers" and 126 shelters have been opened up across the city to support residents, Mamdani said. He encouraged residents to stay indoors and off the roads.
"I cannot emphasize this enough: Please, if you can avoid it, do not drive," he said. "One of the reports we received earlier today from sanitation is there are still far too many New Yorkers out on the roads. Conditions are dangerous and a hazardous travel advisory is in effect for today and for tomorrow."
'An Arctic siege has taken over our state.' N.Y. Gov. Hochul says
New York is being hit with the “coldest winter storm we’ve seen in years,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said today, calling conditions across the state “brutal,” “bone-chilling” and “dangerous.”
In a briefing held at one of the state’s emergency operations centers, Hochul said local officials are bracing for the longest cold stretch and the highest snow totals the state has seen in several years.
“Already, records in the state have been shattered,” she said, adding that several places upstate have already recorded “shocking” temperatures, including minus 34 degrees in the city of Watertown and minus 49 degrees in the village of Copenhagen.
Hochul said much of upstate New York is expected to see snowfall totals of 8 to 12 inches, with 12 to 18 inches of snow forecast across the state’s southern tier, Mohawk Valley, central New York and parts of the Finger Lakes. New York City and Long Island could also be blanketed in up to 8 to 12 inches of snow.
Hochul urged people to stay home today and tomorrow, if possible. She said the heaviest snow is expected this afternoon through midday tomorrow. Later tonight, sleet will create hazardous conditions on roads and sidewalks, she said.
Hochul said she isn’t expecting widespread power outages during the storm, but urged people to be prepared for frigid conditions to persist.
“Bottom line is this: We’re not through it,” Hochul said. “This is sort of the beginning.”
Video shows person zooming down icy streets of Philadelphia in dune buggy
A video posted on X shows someone speeding through Philadelphia's icy and snow-covered streets in a dune buggy.
"Someone is flying around City Hall tail whipping in a little buggy to Olivia Dean’s ‘Man I Need’. Philadelphia is the best city in the world and you can’t convince me otherwise," the post read.
Snow moved into Philadelphia earlier this morning and will continue through the afternoon, before changing to a mix of sleet and freezing rain.
Nearly 300,000 customers without power in Tennessee
Hundreds of thousands of people are without power in the Southern states. According to PowerOutage.us, which tracks power outages across the United States, more than 295,000 customers are experiencing outages in Tennessee and more than 145,000 in Mississippi. Louisiana and Texas also each have more than 100,000 customers without power.
Almost 10,400 flight cancellations and 1,772 delays
Almost 10,400 flights traveling into, from and within the U.S. have been canceled and 1,772 have been delayed as of this morning, according to FlightAware.com.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina is in the lead with 1,091 cancellations and 64 delays. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport accounts for 1,072 cancellations and 157 delays.
Airlines have canceled all flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
American Airlines accounts for much of the flight woes, with 1,471 cancellations and 250 delays.
All flights canceled at Ronald Reagan Airport
Airlines have canceled all flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport today, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority.
The airport's terminals remain open.
Another nearby airport — Washington Dulles International Airport — has also canceled most of today's flights but plans to keep at least one runway open, per the airport authority.
An ice storm is hitting Texas. Will power grids hold up?
The Texas power grid is being put to the test this weekend as subfreezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills hit the region.
As of Sunday morning, around 124,000 customers in Texas are without power as frigid temperatures and a mixture of sleet and snow wallop the state. Freezing rain is expected to move out of central Texas today, but flurries could persist in northern parts of the state. The National Weather Service said freezing temperatures and hazardous travel conditions will last through Monday.
The state’s grid system infamously failed during a winter storm five years ago, which left millions without power and led to more than 200 deaths.
During that February 2021 storm, power plants and grid equipment froze as the demand for heat climbed. Customers were left to deal with near-freezing homes, no clean drinking water, burst pipes and no electricity for days.
Ahead of the weekend storm, state officials and power company executives said infrastructure improvements have made the grid system less vulnerable to freezing temperatures.
The state’s largest electrical grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), said it has made several improvements since 2021, including weatherization and inspection of electric generation units and transmission facilities, a contingency reserve and scheduled maintenance.
On Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott enacted a disaster declaration covering 134 counties across the state.
“The ERCOT grid has never been stronger, never been more prepared and is fully capable of handling this winter storm,” Abbott said at a Thursday news conference. “There is no expectation whatsoever that there’s going to be any loss of power from the power grid.”
New York City opening 10 warming centers due to extreme cold
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that the city would be operating 10 warming centers through at least Monday evening.
"As dangerously cold temperatures move through New York, we have opened 10 warming centers across all five boroughs to provide safe, heated indoor spaces for New Yorkers in need," he posted on X.
Two men die of hypothermia in Louisiana
Two men have died of hypothermia in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, amid this weekend's freezing temperatures, according to the state health department
Officials did not identify the men. Their deaths were confirmed by the parish's coroner as storm-related, the department said.
The department is encouraging residents to stay warm or head to a warming center in their area if they need help.
Video shows PennDOT and Philadelphia Department of Streets plowing highways
The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management posted a video on X showing snowplows clearing a highway as traffic accumulates behind.
"PennDOT and Philadelphia Department of Streets are working hard plowing to keep highways and roads passable. Please avoid unnecessary travel so they have room to safely work," the post said.
The post also cautioned drivers who have to be on the road to stay at least six car lengths behind snow-response equipment.
'Toughest part of the storm is right now,' Kentucky Gov. Beshear warns
There is more ice hitting the Bluegrass State than forecast, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said this morning, urging people to stay home and off the roads.
"Thankfully, there were no major issues reported overnight," Beshear said during an emergency briefing. "But the toughest part of the storm is right now. We've had 25,000 additional power outages in the last two hours alone."
There are a three ways Beshear is worried the state may see loss of life: accidents on icy roads, freezing conditions caused by power outages, and shoveling heavy ice. Beshear said that in the past there have been cases of cardiac arrest from the physical strain of shoveling and noted that ice is heavier than show.
Utility workers are out en masse to help prevent major outages, officials said. The state is working with the National Guard to help trim trees before the limbs break onto roads and power lines.
The storm is expected to pass through Kentucky until early Monday morning, but officials warned the dangers would persist through the week.
"I wouldn’t think of it being gone, because if it dumps a ton of ice and it gets really cold, that ice is going to stay and it's going to stick," Beshear said. "And so you ought to think about the difficult and dangerous conditions extending into next week."
Almost half the U.S. under a state of emergency amid snowstorm
A total of 23 states from the South all the way to the Northeast are under a state of emergency amid this weekend’s snowstorm.
A state of emergency is declared by the governor in a weather event when it is predicted to be a threat to public safety and infrastructure in a way that exceeds local resources.
States under emergency declarations include Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. All of these states have been impacted by snow this weekend, with most in the Northeast continuing to rack up accumulations today.
Widespread flight cancellations at Washington National Airport
Travelers into and out of the D.C. area will likely be grounded Sunday, as Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport reports that “most of today’s flights have been canceled.”
“The airport snow team is actively clearing snow from the airfield,” officials said in a 7 a.m. advisory. “No flights can take off or land while the team is working. Weather conditions are expected to remain treacherous for much of the day.”
People were told to expect widespread cancellations today and to check directly with airlines to confirm or rebook.
NYC public schools implement remote learning for Monday
Public schools in New York City will be closed on Monday, with students transitioning to remote learning, city officials announced this morning.
Remote sessions will be in effect for most students, but high schools and schools that serve only grades 6 to 12 were already set to close Monday for a professional development day.
The decision comes as the city and its surrounding areas are being walloped with heavy snow. The National Weather Service is expecting snow accumulations between 12 to 18 inches into Monday, with localized amounts up to 22 inches.
“As snowfall begins to blanket our city and conditions become hazardous, closing school buildings is a necessary step to keep New Yorkers safe,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement. “Over the past week, my administration has prepared for this moment — ensuring devices are in hand, families are informed and educators are ready to welcome students online. Our school system, and our city, is prepared to weather this storm together.”
More than 700,000 without power as winter storm rages on
An estimated 739,168 customers are without power in the South after the storm hit the region and moved into the Northeast.
The highest concentration of outages was in Tennessee, according to poweroutage.us, with more than 250,000 reported outages. Nashville Electric Service said in post on X this morning that its phone system was currently overloaded, and it asked customers to use the outage map to report issues instead.
Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi are not far behind, with more than 100,000 customers without power in each state. Outages were also reported in Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky, but the numbers were lower than 50,000 per state.
Hazardous travel advisory issued in New York City
A hazardous travel advisory has been issued across New York City through Monday as forecasts predict heavy snow and temperatures colder than any sustained period the city has seen in eight years.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged New Yorkers to avoid unnecessary travel, with below-freezing temperatures expected to persist throughout the week, “creating ongoing hazardous conditions,” his office said in a statement published overnight.
The Department of Sanitation will deploy around 2,000 workers on 12-hour shifts to assist with plowing. City officials canceled nonessential government work today.
The Department of Homeless Services has "relaxed intake procedures.” Its teams are working “to connect homeless New Yorkers with shelter, warming centers and lifesaving services,” Mamdani’s office added.
Subway and bus schedules will operate as usual, but service adjustments may be made if conditions worsen.New York City's ferry service shut down early this morning due to whiteout conditions. The Staten Island Ferry will continue to operate "as long as visibility safely allows."
Around 10,000 flights canceled or delayed so far today
As of this morning, 9,600 flights traveling into, from and within the U.S. have been canceled, and more than 400 have been delayed, according to FlightAware.com.
American Airlines canceled more than 1,400 flights, while Delta Air Lines called off over 1,200.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport was among the most affected, with 545 departing flights canceled and nearly as many arriving flights called off. Nearly all scheduled flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were also canceled.
NYC has warming centers up and running
New York City has activated warming centers in all five boroughs starting today, officials announced.
Each borough will have two warming centers, they said, and they’ll be open through the end of Monday in an attempt to match need as temperatures dive.
New Yorkers who need to warm up amid the extreme weather event can find locations and hours on the NYC311 website, city officials said. They’re located at high schools scheduled to close Monday for a professional learning day, officials said in a separate statement.
“We will get through this storm the way we always do — by looking out for one another,” Mamdani said in the statement.
More than 340,000 without power
The number of people without power continues to rise.
As of 6 a.m. ET, more than 340,000 U.S. customers were without electricity, according to tracking website poweroutage.us. This includes more than 100,000 in Texas, over 95,000 in Mississippi and more than 72,000 in Louisiana.
The Department of Energy on Saturday issued an emergency order authorizing Texas' Electric Reliability Council to deploy "backup generation resources" at data centers and other major facilities, in an effort reduce blackouts across the state.
Rhode Island issues truck travel ban
Rhode Island's governor has announced a truck travel ban, which will begin at noon today and remain in place “until further notice.”
Gov. Dan McKee has urged Rhode Islanders to avoid traveling during the storm.
While the ban is in place, tractor-trailers, tankers, special permitted vehicles, RVs, box trucks, vehicles with trailers and tandems will be prevented from traveling on the state’s roadways. Those responding to an emergency or carrying emergency supplies will be exempt, as will public transport.
Heavy snow and high winds are expected in the state this morning until tomorrow afternoon.
Body of missing teen found in Ann Arbor, Michigan amid 'extreme cold conditions'
A teenager has been found dead in Ann Arbor, Michigan, following a coordinated 20-hour search by authorities in “extreme cold conditions.”
The 19-year-old was last seen at 1 a.m. on Friday, walking alone and without a coat, Ann Arbor’s Police Department said in a statement.
He was reported missing approximately 15 hours later.
The cause of his death is yet to be determined.
“There are no obvious signs of trauma and foul play is not suspected at this time,” Ann Arbor police said.
New York City, New Jersey officials hope salt and slow speeds will keep drivers safe
Officials in New York City and New Jersey are focusing much of their energy on roadway safety as they prepare for snow, ice and strong winds.
NYC Emergency Management issued a hazardous travel advisory for today and tomorrow as the region is expected to be in for the lowest multiday temperatures it has experienced in eight years, city officials said in a statement.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani vowed to have plowing and street salting operations ongoing throughout the extreme weather episode, he said in the statement.
In New Jersey, the state Department of Transportation issued an emergency order that temporarily lowers posted speed limits to 35 mph on interstate and state highways starting today, the department said in a statement.
The slower speeds join restrictions on big rigs for some roadways, the department said. Officials hope the moves will prevent collisions and other calamities during the weather, but they also say drivers should simply stay off the road or get off when things get dangerous.
Power outages continue to climb
As temperatures drop, the number of people without power has been going up.
More than 245,000 customers were without electricity shortly before 3:30 a.m. ET, the majority of whom are in Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana, according to tracking website poweroutage.us.
There are 74,000 outages in Mississippi, 57,000 in Texas and more than 67,000 in Louisiana. An ice storm warning is in effect in parts of central, southwest and west-central Louisiana and southeast Texas, where ice accumulations of up to three-quarters of an inch and sleet accumulations of up to an inch are possible.
At least 23 states declare a state of emergency
A state of emergency has been declared in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as in parts of Alabama.
Heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain are expected to bring "considerable impacts" to much of the eastern half of the United States, the National Weather Service has warned, with dangerous travel and infrastructure impacts likely to last into the week.
Snow blankets South as weekend storm gets underway
A car stuck in the snow on Saturday in Little Rock, Ark. Will Newton / Getty Images
Interstate 40 is covered in snow in downtown Oklahoma City on Saturday. Alonzo Adams / AP
A Southwest flight takes off at Nashville International Airport in Tennessee on Saturday. Brett Carlsen / Getty Images
Snow falls Saturday in Nashville. George Walker IV / AP
Yana Beeker, front, and Roddy Peterson, behind, sled down a hill at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee, during a winter storm on Saturday. George Walker IV / AP
Yesterday's snow scenes show the early impacts of the weekend's storms, with dramatic snowfall blanketing cities including Little Rock, Oklahoma City and Nashville.
A resident takes photos of the snow in Oklahoma City on Saturday. Sarah Phipps / The Oklahoman via USA Today Network
