Winter Storm Across US Leaves at Least 20 Dead, Disrupts Power and Air Travel
A powerful winter storm sweeping across large parts of the United States has been linked to at least 20 deaths, while also causing widespread power outages and major disruptions to air travel, authorities said.
Fatalities have been reported in several states, including New York, Tennessee, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Kansas and Pennsylvania. In Texas, police confirmed that a 16-year-old girl lost her life in a sledding-related incident amid hazardous weather conditions.
New York has recorded eight deaths since Friday, according to local officials. In many cases, authorities said investigations are still ongoing to determine whether the extreme cold or storm conditions directly caused the deaths.
The severe weather has significantly disrupted daily life across the country. More than 10,000 flights have been cancelled or delayed, affecting passengers nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of households were left without electricity as heavy snow and ice damaged power infrastructure, although restoration efforts have made progress in some areas since the weekend.
Several states issued advisories urging residents to remain indoors as schools closed and road travel became increasingly dangerous. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the main storm system had largely moved out of his state but cautioned that dangerous conditions remained. “We are not out of danger yet,” he said.
The National Weather Service warned that a prolonged cold spell is expected to impact much of the eastern United States. Forecasters said freezing temperatures would affect nearly two-thirds of the country in the coming days, with multiple locations likely to experience record-low temperatures.
While snowfall is expected to gradually decrease in most regions, meteorologists said extremely cold conditions will persist through the week. By Tuesday, the remaining snowfall is forecast to be concentrated mainly in eastern Canada.
In New York City, limited sunshine emerged over Manhattan on Monday, though large sections of the Hudson River remained partially frozen. Snow and slush continued to line streets across the city’s five boroughs as cleanup operations remained underway.
City officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel while crews worked to clear roads. Authorities also announced that public schools would resume in-person classes on Tuesday after a day of remote learning.
Weather officials warned that snow accumulation is unlikely to melt soon, as sub-freezing temperatures are expected to continue for several more days.
