U.S. states blanketed in snow amid severe ice storm

A major winter storm is sweeping across the United States, bringing snow to many states, causing widespread travel disruptions and power outages.

Snow and freezing rain began falling on 24/1 across a vast area stretching from New Mexico to North Carolina, as a massive winter storm moved northeast across the United States. This storm, which initially hit the Southwest and central U.S., is now affecting states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated that 240 million people in the country could be impacted by the storm. At least 20 states and the capital Washington declared a state of emergency. According to FlightAware data, over 4,000 flights to and from the U.S. were canceled, with approximately 4,000 others delayed. By the evening of 24/1, nearly 160,000 customers in the U.S. had lost power, including 50,000 in Texas and Louisiana.

The National Weather Service (NWS) reported snow across the central U.S., including Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Some areas recorded up to 20 cm of snow on the ground by the evening of 24/1. The agency predicted heavy snowfall in certain areas, warning of a "catastrophic" risk of thick ice accumulation. In Dallas, where January temperatures are typically mild, freezing rain caused temperatures to plummet to -6 degrees Celsius.

An image shows a snow-covered highway in Dallas, Texas.

"Everyone should take this storm seriously", the NWS urged, forecasting snowfall to extend from New Mexico to Maine. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem advised affected individuals to stay indoors if possible, check on neighbors, and continue cooperating with local officials. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the federal government would monitor and maintain contact with states in the storm's path. "Stay safe and warm", he wrote on Truth Social.

Residents shop amidst freezing weather in Arlington, Texas.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned that just five to six minutes outdoors could be dangerous to health. Officials believe this life-threatening cold could persist one week after the storm, particularly in the northern plains and Upper Midwest. The NWS also stated, "The effects of snow and sleet will extend into next week with multiple refreeze events, keeping roads slippery and dangerous for both driving and walking in the coming period."

Aircraft move at Nashville International Airport in Tennessee.

The NWS warned that thick ice "could cause prolonged power outages, significant damage to trees, and make travel conditions extremely hazardous or impossible".

Snow blankets Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This dangerous storm is attributed to a stretched polar vortex, which is a mass of low-pressure cold air in the Arctic. While typically relatively round and compact, it can sometimes deform into an oval shape, allowing cold air to spill across North America. Scientists suggest that climate change may be contributing to the increased frequency of this phenomenon, though this remains a subject of debate.