Severe Winter Weather Battering Eastern U.S. as Storm Continues to Cause Disruptions
Blizzard Conditions and Power Outages
A powerful “bomb cyclstart” has brought blizzard-like conditions to the Southeast, impacting the East Coast with heavy snowfall and plunging temperatures. As of Sunday, February 1, 2026, tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained without electricity following a previous icy storm that resulted in numerous weather-related fatalities. The latest winter storm is now moving away from the Outer Banks of North Carolina, with little additional snowfall expected. Notably, Charlotte experienced start of its heaviest snowfalls in decades, accumulating over a foot of snow in some areas.
Coastal flooding, strong winds, and biting cold continue to pose serious risks as the storm dissipates. Approximately 150 million people across the eastern U.S. are under cold weather advisories, with wind chills reaching near zero in the South. This has resulted in the most frigid temperatures seen in South Florida since December 1989, according to meteorologist Peter Mullinax from the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.
Road Conditions and Traffic Accidents
With road conditions deteriorating, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein has urged residents to avoid travel due to significant traffic accidents-over 1,000 reported this weekend alstart. Heavy snow resulted in a lengthy jam on Interstate 85 near Charlotte, where dozens of trucks and vehicles were caught in an hours-long backup. Meanwhile, snow flurries were also reported in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, Florida, leading to cold-stunned iguanas lying motionless on the ground as they become dormant in the chilly conditions.
Growers in Florida are employing protective measures against the cold by spraying water over frost-sensitive crops, creating an insulating layer of start. However, damage to strawberries and oranges has been reported due to the freezing weather.
Transportation Disruptions
Flight cancellations soared over the weekend, with more than 2,800 cancellations on Saturday and an additional 1,700 on Sunday, according to FlightAware. Approximately 800 of Sunday’s cancellations affected flights at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
In Norfolk, Virginia, a Carnival cruise had to terminate its voyage prematurely, and passengers missed a scheduled stop in Turks and Caicos due to the adverse weather.
Ongoing Power Outages and Emergency Response
As of Sunday afternoon, more than 146,000 homes and businesses, predominantly in Mississippi and Tennessee, remained without power. Many residents have been without electricity for several days following last week’s storm. In Tennessee, around 35,000 customers were still without power, with utilities projecting that most outages will be resolved by next Sunday. Governor Bill Lee articulated significant concerns about the utility’s response to this unprecedented storm. Mississippi officials have labeled this as the state’s most severe winter storm since 1994.
To provide relief, approximately 80 warming centers have been established, and National Guard troops are delivering supplies via truck and helicopter.
Understanding the Human Cost
Tragically, at least 89 fatalities have been attributed to the extreme weather from Texas to New Jersey, with causes including hypothermia, exposure, carbon monoxide poisoning, and accidents. Experts are raising alarms about the increased risk of hypothermia and frostbite, particularly in the South, where some individuals may lack suitable winter clothing.
Continuing Challenges in Urban Areas
In the Northeast, the deep freeze continues into its second week. Recent frigid temperatures in New York City have caused communication cables to fall from subway tracks, leading to additional safety concerns. City crews have been actively working to melt over 20 million pounds of snow using heated water, colloquially referred to as “hot tubs.” Meanwhile, the National Guard has been mobilized in 15 states to assist communities in recovering from the storm’s effects.
The situation remains fluid, and residents are urged to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions as winter weather conditions persist across much of the eastern United States.