A massive winter storm that President Trump declared “historic” has killed at least 29 people across the United States while leaving hundreds of thousands without power as Arctic temperatures plunge into dangerous territory.
Storm’s Devastating Impact Across America
The winter storm affected over 200 million Americans under weather alerts by Sunday morning, with more than one million people losing electricity. Southern states bore the brunt of power outages, particularly Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Kentucky, where heavy snowfall rarely occurs. Copenhagen, New York, recorded a bone-chilling -49°F, breaking temperature records as Arctic air pushed southward across the continent.
Travel chaos continued Monday evening with nearly 7,000 flights delayed and over 5,000 canceled nationwide, according to FlightAware data. The National Weather Service reported Boston received 15 inches of snow, while more than a dozen states saw over a foot of accumulation. Bonito Lake, New Mexico, recorded 31 inches; Crested Butte, Colorado, saw 23 inches; and Clintonville, Pennsylvania, measured 20 inches.
Federal Response and Emergency Declarations
President Trump approved federal disaster declarations for twelve states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. The Department of Homeland Security reported that 17 states, plus Washington, D.C., declared weather emergencies by Saturday afternoon. “We just ask that everyone would be smart—stay home if possible,” urged DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during the crisis response.
Tragic Deaths and Ongoing Dangers
The Associated Press confirmed 29 storm-related fatalities across multiple states, including two people killed by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio. New York City officials reported eight people found dead outside as temperatures dropped below zero. Deaths occurred in Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, Michigan, and Tennessee, with investigations ongoing. Officials warned that freezing rain following the snow could create dangerous ice conditions on roads and power lines for days ahead.