Winter weather: Freezing conditions put 31 million under cold alerts
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The storm is set to move offshore today, but the National Weather Service predicted moderate to heavy lake-effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes.
What to know about the severe winter weather
- At least 4 people have been killed during the first serious winter storm of the year this week, while millions remain in the grip of an icy blast that is making travel hazardous or impossible.
- Some 31 million people are waking up to frigid temperatures and winter weather advisories today, including Southern states, from Arizona to Florida.
- More than 200,000 energy customers are still without power, while more than 5,000 flights have been delayed and hundreds canceled. Airports from Kansas to Washington were temporarily closed yesterday.
- Police continue to respond to hundreds of stranded motorists, while authorities urge people to stay off the roads where possible.
- The storm is set to move offshore today, but the National Weather Service predicted moderate to heavy lake-effect snow downwind of the Great Lakes today and tomorrow.
- A new winter storm is developing over Texas and will produce snow and freezing rain tomorrow.
Man dies in weather-related crash with plow truck in Pennsylvania
A man died in a crash with a PennDot plow truck on Saturday, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said. The crash occurred due to snow impacting visibility, according to the crash synopsis.
The crash unfolded on State Route 89 in Greenfield Township around 2:30 p.m.
Thomas Dedinsky, 74, driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling northbound as the snow plow was traveling southbound. Snow blew from the west and blocked the plow driver’s view and the plow’s driver applied the brakes, according to the crash synopsis. The Grand Cherokee then struck the plow.
Dedinsky was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle sustained minor injuries. The driver of the plow did not report any injuries.
The investigation is ongoing. It is unclear if this death is a result of the same system that has killed four people on Sunday and Monday.
More than 180,000 customers without power in U.S.
Power outages are impacting customers in the central U.S. to the East Coast because of yesterday's winter storm, as well as in Southern California, where red flag warnings are in effect for powerful offshore winds.
Here are the latest numbers as of 11 a.m. ET., according to PowerOutage.Us.
Virginia: 58,963
West Virginia: 33,484
Kentucky: 32,669
Indiana: 31,521
California: 25,933
Schools in D.C.-area remain closed today
Many school districts in the Washington, D.C., area, including D.C. Public Schools, are closed today.
In Virginia: Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Prince William County and Stafford County Public Schools are closed.
In Maryland: Calvert County, Charles County, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County and St. Mary’s County Public Schools are closed.
See a full list of closures here.
Multiple deaths after winter storm makes for dangerous conditions
Multiple people were killed during the first major winter storm of 2025 in snow shoveling and travel-related deaths. NBC News’ Gary Grumbach describes how the storm shut down airports in Washington, D.C., and Chicago so that snow could be cleared off runways.
It's a headaches for adults — but for kids, snowstorm creates a winter wonderland
Heavy snow inundated Delaware yesterday and while it was a nuisance for adults, for kids it was a much welcome snow day to spend sledding.
Plenty of families spent the day sledding at Wilmington’s Rockford Park as schools were closed because of the inclement weather.
“It's awesome!” Luke Nelson told NBC Philadelphia. When asked if he was cold, he shook his head and said, “Too much fun!”
When children were asked if they were upset to miss school, two little ones shook their heads and said "no" with a smile as they enjoyed the winter wonderland and extended winter break.
City employees in Kansas City volunteer to plow streets during blizzard
Dozens of Kansas City, Missouri, city employees volunteered to help clear their city as a blizzard blanketed the city in snow yesterday.
Mario Vasquez, an assistant city manager and director of planning and development, decided to help out manning a snowplow truck. “It’s a chance for me to do my part,” he told NBC affiliate KSHB of Kansas City.
“The snow is super fluffy, it’s not super slippery, and it’s not super slick, so you can actually plow it,” Vasquez said, explaining that he and other co-workers left their warm office buildings to brave the cold and offer a helping hand to plow drivers.
“It just leaves a lot of work for them [plow drivers] to do, and we want to lighten that load to some extent,” Vasquez said. “I’m sure people want to be home with their families. We just want to make that happen a little faster. We’re doing our part on that.”
New winter storm headed for Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas
The next winter storm to hit the country will affect Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and is due to hit Thursday before traversing the country Saturday.
Winter storm watches are now up for parts of northern Texas, southern Oklahoma and much of Arkansas, including the major metro areas of Dallas and Little Rock.
Between 3 and 6 inches of snow is expected for this region.
Dallas only needs 4 inches to crack into its top 10 snowiest days on record. Even a few inches of snow across the Dallas metro area could have crippling impacts.
Snow and ice are likely across the southern Plains and the Southeast, but who sees snow versus ice and how much will depend on the ultimate track of the storm.
Major Southern metro areas that are likely to see some form of wintry weather Thursday and Friday include: Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh.
Major metros in the South that have less confidence in seeing wintry weather but could get the icy side of the storm include San Antonio, Austin, Shreveport, Jackson and Columbia, South Carolina.
Beyond Friday, there is high uncertainty on where the storm goes after impacting the Southeast.
Arctic blast brings single-digit wind chills this morning
An Arctic blast is impacting much of the country with bone chilling winds after a deadly winter storm blanketed multiple states in snow, created dangerous road conditions and led to mass flight cancellations yesterday.
A low pressure system over eastern Canada is pushing cold air south, creating unseasonably cold weather for the next few weeks.
In total, 250 people million people are at freezing or below temperatures this morning, with the only state not experiencing the chill being Hawaii, NBC’s Al Roker said on "TODAY."
This morning with wind chill, it feels like 7 degrees Fahrenheit in Chicago, 11 F in New York City and 16 F in Atlanta. The cold weather will continue tomorrow with single-digit wind chills and more cold temperatures into next week, Roker said.
Another storm is coming with 11 million forecast to be impacted with winter storm watches in place in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. This storm is forecast to grow and travel east toward the mid-Atlantic, though it's not clear just how far northeast it’ll go.
Maryland State Police responds to 750 calls for help today so far
Police in Maryland have responded to 750 calls related to the severe winter weather since 1 a.m. ET today, including more than 200 reported crashes and more than 230 unattended vehicles, Maryland State Police said on X.
Frigid temperatures place 31 million under cold advisories
Temperatures have dropped with 31 million people under winter weather advisories, even including Southern states from Arizona to Florida, NBC News meteorologist Michelle Grossman said on "Early TODAY" this morning.
Bismark, North Dakota, will reach an arctic 3 degrees Fahrenheit — minus 14 with the wind chill factor — while New York City will reach 21 degrees, which will feel like 8 degrees with wind chill.
Many areas, including Tampa, Florida, are 15 degrees below the average for the time of year.
The cold snap will continue for most into tomorrow.
Sprawling winter storm blamed for at least four deaths
A sprawling winter storm, which is blamed for the deaths of at least four people, dumped 2 feet or more of snow in some areas. The storm stretched from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic, leaving tens of thousands without power and causing thousands of flight cancellations and delays. Washington, D.C., received more than half a foot of snow, its highest total in years. NBC News’ Sam Brock reports.
