Deadly Winter Storm in US Claims 25 Lives, Triggers Widespread Power Outages

A massive winter storm continued to batter large parts of the United States on Monday, bringing fresh snow to the Northeast. Meanwhile, lingering effects of freezing rain worsened conditions across several Southern states. As a result, at least 25 people died due to storm-related incidents. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of residents remained without electricity in freezing temperatures. Authorities warned that conditions could worsen before improving.

Heavy snow stretched across a 2,100-kilometre corridor from Arkansas to New England. In many areas, snowfall exceeded one foot. Consequently, roads became impassable and traffic ground to a halt. Airports cancelled thousands of flights, while school districts closed across multiple states. According to the National Weather Service, areas north of Pittsburgh recorded up to 20 inches of snow. Furthermore, wind chills dropped as low as minus 31 degrees Celsius.

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Fatal accidents and exposure reported as winter storm grips nation

The death toll rose across several states due to accidents and exposure. Snowplows struck and killed two people in Massachusetts and Ohio. Meanwhile, sledding accidents claimed lives in Arkansas and Texas. In Kansas, police found a woman dead under snow after she left a bar. Similarly, New York City reported eight outdoor deaths during the frigid weekend. Officials continue investigating the exact causes.

Power outages affected more than 750,000 customers nationwide by Monday afternoon. Most outages occurred in Southern states hit by ice storms. In Mississippi and Tennessee, falling trees and snapped power lines caused widespread damage. Therefore, officials opened warming centres and distributed generators and supplies. The University of Mississippi cancelled classes for the week due to severe ice conditions.

At the same time, bitter cold followed the storm nationwide. Much of the Midwest, South, and Northeast recorded subzero temperatures. Experts said the Lower 48 states experienced their coldest average low since 2014. Although Florida saw record warmth, it failed to offset national temperature drops. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors and remain cautious as recovery efforts continue.

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