A powerful winter storm that swept across the United States is nearing its end, but more than 800,000 households remain without power, and it has already claimed at least 11 lives. Extreme cold temperatures are expected to persist in many areas until this weekend, causing transportation disruptions and widespread flight cancellations. Some cities have already announced school closures or shifted to remote learning as a result of the snow and winds.
The storm continues to impact the northern New England and Appalachian regions, with it expected to completely move out by Tuesday morning, January 27th. However, even as the storm moves away, the deadly extreme cold will still affect most parts of the United States, putting nearly 90 million people under low temperature alerts.
According to CNN, meteorologists warn that this severe cold spell will continue to wreak havoc this week. In areas north of the Mason-Dixon line, temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing before the weekend. The Mid-Atlantic, Upper Midwest, and Northeast regions may not see any signs of snowmelt until early February.
Due to infrastructure damage caused by ice, over 800,000 households are still without power. In terms of transportation, Sunday saw the most severe flight cancellations since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with over 17,000 flights canceled.
Boston Logan International Airport temporarily closed due to the storm, leading to numerous stranded passengers, with full operations not expected to resume until Tuesday. Additionally, many major cities have announced school closures or a shift to remote learning on Monday, January 26th.
This storm left over 1 foot (about 30 centimeters) of snow in 15 states across the U.S. In New York, Central Park received 11.4 inches (29 centimeters) of snow on Sunday, breaking the record for the most snowfall in a single day since 1905.
Despite the harsh weather conditions, American snowboarding legend Shaun White was spotted performing in the park, even flying over the heads of actors Shane Gillis and Chris O’Connor.
The icing and rain caused by the storm resulted in disasters in many areas. In Sandy Springs, Georgia, a fallen tree pierced the ceiling of a house, injuring one person who was taken to the hospital.
Knoxville, Tennessee also experienced a tree collapsing on a house, forcing four people and two dogs to evacuate.
Amidst the devastation, Annapolis, Maryland showed the spirit of community assistance. The Midshipman Action Group of the U.S. Naval Academy took to the streets on Sunday to help residents shovel snow voluntarily.
The U.S. Naval Academy stated on social media, “We are working with the city of Annapolis to have our Midshipman Action Group volunteer to shovel snow for residents in need.”
The school affirmed, “We support our neighbors in Annapolis and are committed to service beyond our campus.”