Arctic Storm Paralyzes US: Flight Chaos and Mass Power Cuts
A colossal winter storm, described by officials as an "Arctic siege," has unleashed chaos across the United States, leading to the cancellation of more than 10,000 flights and plunging over 850,000 households into darkness. The extreme weather system, impacting an area spanning 2,000 miles from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England, is affecting more than half of America's population.
State of Emergency Declared Across Multiple Regions
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), at least 180 million people across 37 states are feeling the storm's brutal effects. In response, seventeen states alongside the District of Columbia have declared states of emergency, mobilising rescue teams and emergency supplies. New York Governor Kathy Hochul starkly warned, "An Arctic siege has taken over our state. It is brutal, it is bone-chilling and it is dangerous."
The NWS forecasts particularly severe conditions for New England and the Ohio Valley, predicting up to 18 inches (45cm) of snow. For areas avoiding the heaviest snowfall, the forecaster issued warnings of freezing rain and potentially "catastrophic ice accumulation," coupled with dangerously cold wind chills affecting tens of millions of residents.
Transportation Gridlock and Historic Flight Disruption
The storm has caused unprecedented travel disruption. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that Sunday's flight cancellations represent the highest single-day total since the COVID-19 pandemic. Tracking website FlightAware recorded over 10,000 cancellations and a further 8,000 delays. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urged the public to "stay home" due to the perilously cold temperatures.
On the ground, cities are scrambling to cope. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported deploying thousands of refuse lorries fitted with snow ploughs, facing what he described as the coldest temperatures in eight years. The city has also instituted a remote learning day for students. Similarly, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill imposed a 35mph speed limit on highways, anticipating conditions "the likes of which we haven't seen in years."
Widespread Power Failures and Record-Breaking Cold
Power infrastructure is buckling under the strain. By early afternoon Eastern Time, outage tracking site PowerOutage.us reported more than 889,000 customers without electricity. Tennessee was the hardest-hit state, with over 300,000 connections lost. Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi each reported more than 100,000 affected households.
The cold is shattering records, particularly in northern regions. The village of Copenhagen in New York's Lewis County, near the Canadian border, recorded a staggering low of -45°C (-49°F). Meteorologists warn the extreme cold is forecast to linger for the coming week. Josh Weiss from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration highlighted the storm's "unique" nature due to its vast geographic spread and the severity of the impending freeze.
From Georgia, where officials warned of the biggest anticipated ice storm in over a decade, to Philadelphia where its famous statue was shrouded in snow, the nation is grappling with a weather event of remarkable scale and intensity.
