A massive winter storm that dumped record snowfall and dangerous ice across the eastern and central United States has claimed at least 18 lives and left hundreds of thousands without power, as forecasters warn of life-threatening cold conditions that could persist for days.
The storm, which began impacting the country Friday, affected more than 230 million people across at least 20 states. AccuWeather forecasters estimate total damages and economic losses will reach $100 billion to $105 billion, accounting for property damage, business disruptions, supply chain impacts, power outages, travel delays, and infrastructure damage.
Authorities confirmed fatalities in multiple states including Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, Michigan and Virginia. Victims died from hypothermia, sledding accidents, vehicle crashes, and cardiac events while shoveling snow.
In Frisco, Texas, a 16-year-old girl died in a sledding accident when she was being pulled by a vehicle and struck a tree. A 17-year-old boy in Arkansas died in a similar incident involving an ATV. Three people in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, aged 60 to 84, died while removing snow, prompting the county coroner to warn residents about the cardiac risks of snow removal.
In Austin, a person was found dead in an abandoned gas station parking lot from apparent hypothermia. Two men in Louisiana also died from hypothermia. In New York City, five people who appeared to be homeless were found dead outdoors in frigid weather. On Long Island, a retired NYPD officer died while shoveling snow at his church.
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A 28-year-old elementary school teacher, Rebecca Rauber, died from suspected hypothermia after leaving a bar Friday evening. Her body was found 300 yards from where security footage last captured her.
The Northeast experienced the heaviest snow accumulations, with Pennsylvania recording 23 inches, Massachusetts 20 inches, and Connecticut and New Jersey both receiving 17 inches. New York City’s Central Park received 11 inches.
Southern states unaccustomed to winter weather also saw significant snow. Little Rock, Arkansas, reported 11 inches, while Memphis and other parts of Tennessee received 5 inches. Even Texas and Oklahoma experienced rare snowfall.
The Midwest saw accumulations of 14 inches in Indiana and Illinois, while states from the Plains to New England dealt with a dangerous mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.
As of Monday morning, approximately 820,500 customers remained without power across the nation. Tennessee led with 252,187 outages, representing about 9 percent of the state. Mississippi and Louisiana each had more than 125,000 customers without power.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned Sunday that heavy ice on power lines, combined with low temperatures and possible wind gusts, could cause power outages lasting several days. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is coordinating with governors to ensure states have necessary equipment to address prolonged outages.
More than 11,000 flights were canceled within, into or out of the United States as of Sunday afternoon. An additional 3,000 flights scheduled for Monday were preemptively canceled, with departures from Boston and New York City particularly affected.
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Authorities across multiple states urged residents to stay off roads unless absolutely necessary, reporting hundreds of weather-related crashes. North Carolina reported over 400 traffic accidents during the storm. Tennessee experienced more than 160 crashes, with 18 injuries and one fatality. Ontario Provincial Police in Canada responded to approximately 100 car crashes over 24 hours.
The National Weather Service warned of life-threatening cold that could last a week following the storm’s passage, particularly in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Wind chill temperatures were forecast to plunge below minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, conditions that can cause frostbite within minutes.
Southern cities faced record-low temperatures Monday morning. Dallas experienced wind chills of minus 3 degrees, Austin 7 degrees, Little Rock zero degrees, and Nashville 2 degrees. Forecasters predicted Dallas, New Orleans and Austin could hit record low temperatures Monday, with brutal cold continuing into Tuesday.
At least 20 states and Washington, D.C., declared states of emergency ahead of the storm. President Trump approved emergency declarations for multiple states including Arkansas, Georgia, West Virginia and Louisiana, making federal disaster assistance available to support state and local response efforts.
FEMA urged residents to stock up on supplies, plan for school and work disruptions, charge power banks, and carry backup medications.
President Trump used the storm to question climate change science, posting on Truth Social Friday: “Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 States. Rarely seen anything like it before. Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain — WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???”
More than a dozen climate scientists told media outlets that Trump’s statement conflated short-term weather with long-term climate patterns. They noted that even as the eastern United States experienced extreme cold, more of the world remained warmer than average.
Dr. Daniel L. Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, stated that “global warming continues and has in fact been progressing at an increased rate in recent years.” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently ranked 2025 as the third-warmest year since 1850, with the 10 warmest years on record all occurring since 2015.
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Climate scientists explained that the brutal winter conditions resulted from a stretched polar vortex sending Arctic air southward into North America. Some research suggests that climate change may make the jet stream wavier, potentially making periods of frigid winter weather more widespread even as winters become warmer overall. However, scientists note this remains an active area of research without settled consensus.
The scientists emphasized that as the planet’s atmosphere warms, it carries more moisture, leading to more precipitation — including heavier snow and ice in winter storms.
Historical data from NOAA shows the eastern U.S. has experienced a winter warming trend over the past century, while most of the western U.S. has been experiencing record-warm winter temperatures.
The storm developed from a wave in the upper atmosphere that elongated the polar vortex, which normally remains compact over northern Canada and Alaska. The cold air interacted with moisture from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico to create the massive system.
The National Weather Service warned that heavy ice could cause “long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions,” particularly in states less accustomed to severe winter weather.
Due to the storm’s immense size and expected impact, NOAA deployed a Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft to collect atmospheric data to improve forecasting accuracy.
As the storm moves out Monday morning, cleanup and recovery efforts will continue across affected regions, with authorities urging residents to remain cautious of hazardous conditions including icy roads, falling tree limbs, and dangerously cold temperatures.
