Massive Winter Storm Dumps Snow, Ice Across Northeast

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Massive Winter Storm Dumps Snow, Ice Across Northeast/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A powerful winter storm delivered its final blow to the Northeast on Monday, blanketing cities in heavy snow and bitter cold. The system had already brought ice, power outages, and travel chaos across much of the South and East. Flights were canceled, roads became impassable, and record-low temperatures swept the Lower 48.

People walk through downtown Toronto as a winter storm moves through the region, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

A motorist passes an ice covered tree limb blocking a lane along West End Ave. during a winter storm Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Winter Storm Impact Across U.S. – Quick Looks

Over a foot of snow blanketed a 1,300-mile stretch from Arkansas to New England
Forecasts warned of up to two feet in the Northeast
Icy conditions and tree damage caused widespread power outages
At least 213 million people were under winter weather alerts at peak
Bitter cold followed, with national low averaging 9.8°F — coldest since 2014
Mississippi experienced its worst ice storm since 1994
At least five deaths reported across Louisiana and New York
Over 12,000 flights canceled, 20,000+ delayed nationwide
Freezing rain caused treacherous road conditions in the South
Residents from New York to Massachusetts embraced snow days and community care

People walk across the Brooklyn Bridge during a winter storm, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Sydney Schaefer)

Workers shovel snow from a sidewalk in downtown Indianapolis, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Obed Lamy)

Deep Look

Northeast Buried in Snow as Historic Winter Storm Leaves Trail of Cold, Chaos Across U.S.

The massive winter storm that swept through much of the southern and eastern United States reached its final stage on Monday, dumping deep snow across the Northeast and leaving behind a brutal blast of arctic air. The storm’s path cut through a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch from Arkansas to New England, bringing road closures, power outages, and a temporary halt to daily life for millions.

By the start of the workweek, over a foot of snow had fallen across wide areas, with some parts of Massachusetts, including Falmouth, expecting up to two feet. Roads were impassable in multiple states, airports were crippled, and schools shuttered as cities and towns braced for the final wave.

“I feel that the universe just put a big, huge pause on us with all the snow,” said Rev. Nell Fields in Falmouth, where snow fell in sheets. She shoveled a path just to let her dog outside.

Snow Day Culture Returns to the Northeast

In New York City, the storm transformed neighborhoods into wintry playgrounds. On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, resident January Cotrel joined others sledding and building snowmen.

“I pray for two feet every time we get a snowstorm,” she said. “Let the city just shut down for a day — it’s beautiful.”

Such scenes offered moments of joy amid a storm that disrupted much of the country for days.

Coldest U.S. Night in Over a Decade

As the snow tapered off, record-breaking cold swept across the Lower 48. According to former NOAA scientist Ryan Maue, Sunday night’s average low temperature hit 9.8°F (-12.3°C) — the coldest since January 2014. Only Florida’s mild weather prevented the average from falling even lower.

From Montana to the Florida Panhandle, the National Weather Service issued extreme cold warnings, with sub-zero temperatures and dangerous wind chills expected. Officials across several states warned that melting snow and ice during the day would refreeze at night, worsening already hazardous conditions.

Power Outages and Travel Disruption

At its peak Sunday morning, over 213 million Americans were under some type of winter weather alert. Poweroutage.us reported hundreds of thousands of outages, with Tennessee and Mississippi among the hardest hit.

In Mississippi, where freezing rain brought down trees and power lines, Governor Tate Reeves said it was the state’s worst ice storm since 1994. Crews deployed more than 200,000 gallons of brine, along with sand and salt, in what was described as the largest ice-mitigation effort in state history.

“That doesn’t mean the danger is behind us,” Reeves said. “Please, do not drive unless absolutely necessary.”

The storm also devastated the travel sector. According to FlightAware, over 12,000 flights were canceled Sunday, with nearly 20,000 delayed. Airports from Philadelphia to Newark experienced cascading delays into Monday.

Tragedy in the Cold

As temperatures plunged, so did safety. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that at least five people were found dead outside amid sub-freezing temperatures. Their causes of death are under investigation but believed to be weather-related.

In Louisiana, two men in Caddo Parish died from hypothermia, according to the state health department.

Community Response: Kindness in the Storm

In a heartwarming gesture, Allison Bross, the owner of a fashion store in Minneapolis called b. Resale, opened her doors to freezing protesters and residents seeking shelter.

“We’re a community-based business. If we hear someone in our neighborhood is getting hurt, I’m going to be here immediately,” she said.

Meanwhile, communities across the East gathered in churches, community centers, and homes — finding warmth in one another.

“It’s given us some silence,” said Rev. Fields. “Maybe we’re using this time to think about what’s really important — community and taking care of each other.”