Over 140 million Americans face a winter storm warning as a powerful cold front sweeps across the country, bringing heavy snow and sleet with it. The storm is expected to cause widespread disruptions, including power outages and treacherous travel conditions.
As of Saturday morning, reports of snowfall have been coming in from parts of Oklahoma, Iowa, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, and Missouri, with the severe cold weather creating hazardous driving conditions on many roads throughout the Midwest and Southern US. Electric grid operators are taking precautions to avoid rotating blackouts, but the risk of widespread power outages remains high.
The worst of the storm is expected to hit the southern plains, the lower Mississippi valley, the Tennessee valley, and the Southeast, where freezing rain and sleet are forecast. The National Weather Service has warned of "catastrophic ice accumulation" in these areas, with totals of more than 1 inch possible in parts of northern Louisiana, central and northern Mississippi, southern Tennessee, and the southern Appalachians.
The cold snap is expected to continue well into the weekend, with temperatures plummeting and wind chills becoming bitterly cold. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has been activated, with the Trump Administration coordinating with state and local officials to respond to the disaster.
Meanwhile, at least 16 states have declared states of emergency, including Kentucky, which is expected to get up to 15 inches of snow, ice accumulation, and dangerously cold temperatures. New York City is forecast to get between 3 inches and 16 inches of snow this weekend.
As the storm continues to bear down on the country, residents are being urged to stay safe and stay warm. The National Weather Service has warned that widespread power outages were possible, along with major travel disruptions, extensive tree damage, and dangerous conditions.
In all, more than 130,000 customers are currently without power nationwide, with over 61,600 of those in Texas alone. The storm is expected to have a devastating impact on the country, with many areas facing severe disruptions for days or even weeks to come.
As of Saturday morning, reports of snowfall have been coming in from parts of Oklahoma, Iowa, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, and Missouri, with the severe cold weather creating hazardous driving conditions on many roads throughout the Midwest and Southern US. Electric grid operators are taking precautions to avoid rotating blackouts, but the risk of widespread power outages remains high.
The worst of the storm is expected to hit the southern plains, the lower Mississippi valley, the Tennessee valley, and the Southeast, where freezing rain and sleet are forecast. The National Weather Service has warned of "catastrophic ice accumulation" in these areas, with totals of more than 1 inch possible in parts of northern Louisiana, central and northern Mississippi, southern Tennessee, and the southern Appalachians.
The cold snap is expected to continue well into the weekend, with temperatures plummeting and wind chills becoming bitterly cold. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has been activated, with the Trump Administration coordinating with state and local officials to respond to the disaster.
Meanwhile, at least 16 states have declared states of emergency, including Kentucky, which is expected to get up to 15 inches of snow, ice accumulation, and dangerously cold temperatures. New York City is forecast to get between 3 inches and 16 inches of snow this weekend.
As the storm continues to bear down on the country, residents are being urged to stay safe and stay warm. The National Weather Service has warned that widespread power outages were possible, along with major travel disruptions, extensive tree damage, and dangerous conditions.
In all, more than 130,000 customers are currently without power nationwide, with over 61,600 of those in Texas alone. The storm is expected to have a devastating impact on the country, with many areas facing severe disruptions for days or even weeks to come.
. I remember when I was growing up and we'd get snowed in for a week and just have to make do with what we had. Now it's like the whole country is getting hit with this crazy cold front. I'm worried about all those power outages and how it'll affect people, especially in Texas where they're already struggling. And 16 states declaring emergencies? That's wild. It feels like we've gone from having a big snow day to dealing with a full-blown disaster situation.
?! i'm still trying to get used to living here but it's clear that americans are no strangers to harsh winters 
. 140 million people affected? that's a lotta snow 
! power outages and treacherous travel conditions? yikes 
. i can only imagine how scary it must be for those who have to commute or venture outside during this time.
. the thought of freezing temperatures and icy roads is terrifying 
. at least new york city isn't getting hit as hard, but still 3-16 inches of snow? that's a lotta shoveling ahead 
! i'm keeping my fingers crossed for all those affected by this storm 
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That's crazy! Power outages are gonna be a major issue and I hope everyone's prepared with warm blankets and hot chocolate 
. And those road conditions? Forget about it! 
Stay safe everyone, especially our seniors and vulnerable folks 
. This cold snap is no joke! 
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And what about those folks in NY City, gonna be like "Oh no, I'm stuck at home with no power and no hot shower" 
. Like, stay warm, ppl! Fema's on it, but we should all try to be more chill about this 
. I mean, over 140 million Americans, that's like half the population! 
. I hope everyone stays safe and warm... we've got enough to worry about back in 2023 
At least 140 million people are stuck in the cold, that's wild 
. I feel for y'all in Texas, that's like a whole different world down there 
. 130k+ without power is just... 
. I hope they get it sorted out soon, I need my socials to stay connected 
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. But on the other hand, 130k customers without power is just crazy... I hope they can get everything sorted out ASAP 
. And seriously, 15 inches of snow in Kentucky? That's a lot! 
meanwhile, i'm kinda worried about the lower mississippi valley & tennessee valley, those "catastrophic ice accumulation" warnings don't sound good 
this cold snap is really getting outta hand... 140 million people are gonna be stuck at home for who knows how long? 
and the southern plains are looking straight up treacherous 
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. The southern plains are gonna get absolutely slammed with that 1 inch of ice accumulation 
. The worst part is all the people who don't have generators or backup heat, they're gonna be stuck in the dark for a while... hopefully everyone stays safe and warm 
i lived in minnesota last winter and we got slammed with lake effect snow like 6 feet of the stuff on our neighborhood alone now i know its not the same as being in texas or oklahoma but still it feels so unfair that people have to deal with this kind of weather every year.
it's not like we're used to these kinds of extreme weather events in the US anyway. The fact that power outages are already happening and there's a high risk of widespread blackouts is just scary 
. Stay warm, stay safe, and let's hope this storm passes soon! 
, we knew it was gonna be bad once they said it was gonna hit so many states. The thought of 140 million people affected is wild...like, how do you prepare for that kind of thing? 
. The fact that the federal emergency management agency has been activated is just a Band-Aid on a much bigger issue – our country's vulnerability to extreme weather events needs a serious overhaul 
. We've got FEMA activated, which is a good start, but I think we need to do more to ensure that states are adequately preparing for disasters like this. Kentucky declaring a state of emergency is a step in the right direction, though - maybe it'll prompt other states to follow suit?
. Is that because of how our national weather service is allocating resources? We need to make sure everyone in this country is being treated equally, regardless of where they live.
. I mean, we can't have our grid going down because of some hacking incident or something... that's just not acceptable!
. I mean, sure, New York City is gonna get some snow, but they're always prepared for this kind of thing 