As per reports, a severe winter storm continues to affect large portions of the United States, with impacts spanning the South, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions as of Sunday (25 January).
• State authorities in Georgia have reportedly warned that conditions remain hazardous, with an additional round of freezing rainfall expected in northeastern Georgia.
• This freezing rainfall is likely to refreeze overnight, increasing the risk of dangerously icy road conditions, particularly on bridges and overpasses.
• The storm has reportedly resulted in widespread power outages, with more than one million utility customers without electricity nationwide. Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Alabama are reporting the highest outage levels, primarily due to ice accumulation on power lines and trees causing infrastructure failure.
• Transportation systems nationwide are reportedly experiencing severe disruptions. More than 11000 flights within, into, or out of US have been canceled in a single day, marking one of the highest weather-related airline disruption on Sunday (25 January).
• Major airports including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Blue Grass Airport have reportedly experienced full or near-complete flight cancellations.
• Public transportation services have also been suspended or significantly reduced, including New Jersey Transit services, ferry operations in New York City, and citywide transit systems such as the Charlotte Area Transit System.
• Local governments have implemented emergency measures, including the closure of state offices in Kentucky, Maryland, and New Jersey, suspension of legislative activities in Tennessee, and widespread school closures or transitions to remote learning in multiple cities.
• Warming centers and shelters have been opened in areas such as New York City to protect vulnerable populations from extreme cold.
• States of emergency have been declared in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
• Texas is reportedly experiencing widespread impacts from freezing rainfall, snowfall, and ice accumulation, contributing to hazardous road conditions and a significant rise in power outages, with more than 90,000 utility customers affected.
• Snowfall totals in the Northeast have reached significant levels, with approximately 13 inches recorded in Bridgeport, Connecticut, 12 inches in Ridgefield, New Jersey, 11 inches in the Bronx in New York City, and up to 15 inches in Midland, western Pennsylvania.
• Boston is forecast to receive up to 23 inches of snow, with accumulations potentially exceeding 22.4 inches.
• New York City is reportedly experiencing sustained snowfall with expected accumulations of approximately 11 inches, accompanied by strong wind gusts reaching up to 35 miles per hour, further reducing visibility and increasing snowfall drifting.
