WASHINGTON: A massive winter storm swept across large parts of the United States on Sunday, leaving more than 850,000 electricity customers without power and forcing the cancellation of over 10,000 flights as heavy snow, freezing rain and dangerously low temperatures paralysed eastern and southern states.
According to PowerOutage.us, at least 290,000 customers in Tennessee were affected, while more than 100,000 each lost power in Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. Other impacted states included Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama.
Flight tracking website FlightAware reported that more than 10,200 flights scheduled for Sunday were cancelled, following over 4,000 cancellations on Saturday. Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport confirmed that all flights had been cancelled for the day.
Several airlines, including Delta Air Lines, operated on reduced schedules due to worsening weather conditions, particularly along the East Coast and in southern regions.
The National Weather Service forecast heavy snowfall from the Ohio Valley to the northeastern states, with parts of New England expected to receive up to 18 inches of snow. Rain and freezing rain were also predicted across much of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Forecasters warned of bitterly cold temperatures and hazardous wind chills following the storm, raising concerns over prolonged travel disruptions and potential damage to infrastructure.
President Donald Trump approved federal emergency disaster declarations in several states, describing the storm as historic. The Department of Homeland Security said 17 states and the District of Columbia had declared weather emergencies.
Authorities urged residents to take precautionary measures, including stocking essential supplies, as energy operators implemented emergency protocols to stabilise power grids and prevent widespread blackouts.