A winter storm is raging in the United States: almost two dozen states have declared a state of emergency

A powerful winter storm affecting 140 million Americans began on Saturday, January 24, bringing heavy snowfall, sleet, freezing rain and causing massive power outages. This was reported by the British newspaper The Guardian.

Before the storm hit, at least 16 states, as well as Washington, D.C., declared a state of emergency. Snowfall was already observed on Saturday morning in some parts of the Plains, South and Midwest, including Oklahoma, Iowa, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas and Missouri.

Severe frosts created hazardous driving conditions on many roads as streets and highways were covered in ice and power grid operators stepped up precautions to avoid widespread blackouts.

On Saturday afternoon, the bodies of three people were found on the streets of New York City in sub-zero temperatures. According to police, a 67-year-old man was found on a sidewalk in Manhattan in the morning. Two more bodies – a man in his 30s and a woman in her 60s – were found separately in Brooklyn about two hours after the first discovery. It is alleged that they died due to "weather-related circumstances".

As of Saturday, nearly 14,000 flights to, within, or from the United States through Monday have been canceled. According to forecasters, the winter storm will affect more than 160 million Americans.

Meteorologists warn that widespread, prolonged power outages are possible, as well as significant transportation disruptions, extensive tree damage, and hazardous conditions.

According to the agency Reuters, winter storm has already left more than 210,000 customers in the west as far away as Texas without power.

Calling the storm "historic," US President Donald Trump on Saturday approved the declaration of a federal state of emergency in South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana and West Virginia.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and stay in touch with all states in the path of this storm. Take care and stay warm," Trump wrote.

The Department of Homeland Security reported that 17 states and the District of Columbia have declared a weather emergency.

"In the affected states in the South, tens of thousands of people are without power," said Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem, adding that restoration efforts are underway.

• At the end of December 2025 Snow storm hits the US and Europe. A person died in Sweden, and thousands of flights were canceled or delayed in the United States.
• On January 19, in the US state of Michigan, on the interstate highway collided with or left the road more than 100 cars.