US Politics
Winter storm latest: 844,000 people without power as historic storm breaks temperature records
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A major winter storm is continuing to blanket parts of the U.S. with snow and ice, leaving more than 800,000 without power and disrupting travel throughout the western half of the country.
More than 10,000 flights have been cancelled for Sunday, while another 934 have been delayed due to the storm.
Heavy snow has been forecast from the Ohio Valley to the U.S. northeast. In the south, “catastrophic” ice accumulation threatened to destroy power lines and snap tree branches. Photos out of Nashville show trees coated and cracking, while others show entire streets that look like ice skating rinks.
Since Friday, 24 states have declared emergencies to get ahead of the cleanup and response work that will no doubt be needed once the storm has passed.
The snow is still falling and will continue to do so throughout Sunday evening and into Monday. Several places received record-breaking snowfall on Friday, and could see even more today.
After the initial storm has passed, a record period of cold is set to follow for some parts of the country, locking the snow and ice in while workers fight to restore power in sub-zero windchill.
Snowfall records broken in some parts of the U.S.
Some cities logged record breaking single-day snowfall on Saturday as the massive winter storm rolled east across the country.
Kansas City, Missouri received 5.2 and Wichita, Kansas both received 5.2 inches, and St Louis, Missouri recorded 5.1 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Today, the storm is dumping snow on the northeast and will continue to do so in some areas through Monday morning.
Graig Graziosi25 January 2026 16:55
US braced for mass disruption and power outages amid massive winter storm
A severe winter storm has unleashed travel chaos across the United States, prompting airlines to issue widespread warnings of cancellations and delays at some of the nation’s busiest airports. Sunday is anticipated to be a particularly brutal day for travellers.
The National Weather Service reported on Saturday night that extensive snow, sleet, and freezing rain threatened nearly 180 million people – more than half of the US population – along a vast stretch from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England. Following its sweep through the South, forecasters predict the storm will advance into the Northeast, bringing an estimated 30 to 60 centimetres (1 to 2 feet) of snow from Washington through New York and Boston.
Graig Graziosi25 January 2026 15:16
Welcome to The Independent’s live storm coverage
Stick with The Independent throughout the day for storm information and breaking news.
Graig Graziosi25 January 2026 15:11
Reagan Washington National Airport cancels all flights for Sunday
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport just outside Washington, D.C. announced on Saturday that it is cancelling all of its flights for the day.
Snow and freezing rain covered the region on Saturday and precipitation near the airport continued into noon on Sunday.
Graig Graziosi25 January 2026 05:30
Live blog coverage paused
The Independent’s live coverage of the winter storm has paused for the evening. Stay with The Independent for more breaking news.
Graig Graziosi24 January 2026 23:02
Virginia governor warns of possibly ‘catastrophic’ power outages
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger warned residents that parts of the state could experience “significant and extended power outages” that she described as “catastrophic.”
“Because of wind we’re anticipating, because of the ice and because of the freezing temperatures, we expect Virginia will experience power outages even after the snow has ended,” Spanberger said during a press conference on Saturday afternoon.
She urged Virginians to use the remaining hours before the storm arrives to make sure they’re prepared.
“We know the impact of this storm will be tremendous,” Spanberger said. “Significant snowfall, significant ice and we are anticipating, because of the dangerous low temperatures, ongoing impacts of this storm will continue after the point in time when the snow or the ice have stopped falling.”
Graig Graziosi24 January 2026 23:00
New York Mayor warns city could see 8 to 9 inches of snow
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned city residents to expect up to 8 or 9 inches of snow by Monday.
“By early Monday morning, the heaviest of the weather will have passed, although some precipitation could continue through the day,” Mamdani said. “We expect at least 8 to 9 inches of snow, and likely more.”
He also said along with the snow accumulation, residents should expect “intense” cold.
“This will not just be snow. This storm will also bring with it intense cold, a prolonged period of frigid temperatures that will last through the next week,” Mamdani said.
Graig Graziosi24 January 2026 22:30
Smithsonian closes all DC-area museums
The Smithsonian announced on Saturday that it is closing all of its museums in the Washington, D.C. area in anticipation of Saturday evening’s winter storm.
The museums will remain closed through Monday, January 26.
Graig Graziosi24 January 2026 22:30
Trump approves a slew of emergency declarations ahead of major winter storm
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening that he had approved a number of emergency declarations for states in the path of a major winter storm.
“I have just approved Emergency Declarations for Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We are working closely with FEMA, Governors, and State Emergency Management teams to ensure the safety of everybody. Stay Safe, and Stay Warm!”
Earlier in the day Trump approved similar emergency declarations for Virginia and South Carolina.
Graig Graziosi24 January 2026 22:17
Capital Metro in Austin suspends trains beginning at 4pm
The Capital Metro in Austin, Texas is ending its service for the day at 4pm local time on Saturday in response to the storm.
All services will remain closed on Sunday, and may be reopened on Monday pending conditions.
Austin was recently upgraded to an ice storm warning lasting until noon local time on Sunday. Up to half an inch of ice accumulation is possible.
An extreme cold warning is also in effect until noon local time on Monday. Wind chills as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit are predicted.
Graig Graziosi24 January 2026 22:00