A winter storm swept across the U.S., causing power outages that affected millions, while more than 10,000 flights were canceled on Sunday amid warnings that the situation will persist throughout the week.
International news agencies reported that a massive winter storm struck the U.S., leaving over one million people nationwide without power. On Sunday (25 Jan 2026), more than 10,000 flights were canceled as the storm paralyzed much of the country.
The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) forecast that this storm would hit two-thirds of the country's eastern side on Sunday and continue through the week, causing temperatures to plunge below freezing and resulting in "hazardous impacts on travel and infrastructure" for several days.
Data from PowerOutage.us showed that at 2:14 p.m. local time on Sunday, 1,005,641 customers were without power, mostly in Tennessee. Other heavily affected states included Mississippi, Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama.
Officials predicted heavy snowfall from the Ohio River valley to the Northeast, while ice accumulation reaching "disastrous levels" threatened areas from the lower Mississippi valley to the mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.
"This storm is notable for its unusually wide scope of damage," said Allison Santorelli, a meteorologist with the NWS, adding that approximately 213 million people were under various winter weather warnings.
"The storm's impact stretches from New Mexico and Texas all the way to New England, covering a radius of about 3,220 kilometers."
So far, 24 states have declared states of emergency to manage the situation, including Washington, D.C.
FlightAware.com reported over 10,000 flight cancellations on Sunday, with more than 8,000 flights delayed. Major U.S. airlines have alerted passengers to monitor for sudden changes and cancellations.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has pre-positioned supplies, personnel, and search and rescue teams in multiple states, urging Americans to exercise increased caution.
This massive winter storm results from an expanded Polar Vortex, typically a tightly circular low-pressure cold air mass over the Arctic, which can sometimes elongate into an oval shape, pushing cold air into broad areas—in this case, across North America.
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Source:aljazeera