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Tag: ice storm

  • Colossal winter storm kills at least 18; hundreds of thousands without power across US

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    The workweek opened with yet more snow dumping on the Northeast under the tail end of a colossal winter storm that brought lingering misery to parts of the South, where freezing rain left hundreds of thousands shivering without electricity Monday. Authorities reported at least 18 weather-related deaths.Deep snow — over a foot extending in a 1,300-mile swath from Arkansas to New England — halted traffic, canceled flights and triggered wide school closures Monday. Up to two feet were forecast in some of the harder-hit places.There were more than 800,000 power outages in the nation on Monday morning, according to poweroutage.com. Most of them were in the South, where weekend blasts of freezing rain caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, inflicting crippling outages on northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee.Utility officials in New Albany, Mississippi, said some homes and businesses could be without electricity for at least a week. In nearby Oxford, where most residents and University of Mississippi students were without power Monday, Mayor Robyn Tannehill said on social media that so many trees, limbs and power lines had fallen that “it looks like a tornado went down every street.”“Apparently, the new status symbol in this town is having electricity,” said Marshall Ramsey, a University of Mississippi journalism professor whose family was running a generator at their Oxford home Monday to power a space heater and keep phones charged.A pair of burly, falling tree branches damaged real estate agent Tim Phillips’ new garage, broke a window and cut off power to his home in Oxford. He said half of his neighbors had homes or vehicles damaged.“It’s just one of those things that you try to prepare for,” Phillips said, “but this one was just unreal.”The U.S. had more than 6,400 flight delays and cancellations nationwide Monday, according to flight tracker flightaware.com.More light to moderate snow was forecast in New England through Monday evening.New York City saw its snowiest day in years, with 11 inches falling on Central Park. Main roads throughout the city were largely clear Monday morning, but pedestrians had to plod through snow on some sidewalks and multiple subway lines with above-ground tracks saw delays.Bitter cold grips much of the nationMeanwhile, bitter cold followed in the storm’s wake. It got down to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Minnesota on Sunday. Many communities across the Midwest, South, and Northeast awakened Monday to subzero weather. The entire Lower 48 states were forecast to have their coldest average low temperature of minus 9.8 F — since January 2014.Record warmth in Florida was the only thing keeping that average from going even colder, said former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue, who calculates national averages based on National Weather Service data.From Montana to the Florida Panhandle, the weather service posted cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings as temperatures in many places dipped to zero and even colder. Wind made conditions even chillier and the overnight cold refoze roads early Monday in a cruel reprise of the weekend’s lousy travel weather.Even with precipitation ending in Mississippi, “that doesn’t mean the danger is behind us,” Gov. Tate Reeves said in a news conference Sunday.Freezing rain that slickened roads and brought trees and branches down on roads and power lines were the main peril in the South over the weekend. In Corinth, Mississippi, heavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar told employees at its remanufacturing site to stay home Monday and Tuesday.It already was Mississippi’s worst ice storm since 1994 with its biggest-ever deployment of ice-melting chemicals — 200,000 gallons — plus salt and sand to treat icy roads, Reeves said. He urged people not to drive anywhere unless absolutely necessary. “Do please reach out to friends and family,” Reeves added.At one point Sunday morning, about 213 million people were under some sort of winter weather warning, authorities said.Some 12,000 flights also were canceled Sunday and nearly 20,000 were delayed.Storm leads to deaths in a number of statesIn New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people who died were found outside as temperatures plunged Saturday, though the cause of their deaths remained under investigation. Two men died of hypothermia related to the storm in Caddo Parish in Louisiana, according to the state health department.In Massachusetts, police said a snowplow backed into a couple walking in a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority parking lot in Norwood on Sunday. A 51-year-old woman was killed and her 47-year-old husband was hospitalized.Two teenagers died in sledding accidents, a 17-year-old boy in Arkansas, and a 16-year-old girl in Texas, authorities said.Three weather-related deaths were announced in Tennessee, authorities said. Further details were not immediately available.___Amy reported from Atlanta. Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. AP journalists Charlotte Kramon in Atlanta; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Kath McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; David Caruso in New York; Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio; Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed to this story.

    The workweek opened with yet more snow dumping on the Northeast under the tail end of a colossal winter storm that brought lingering misery to parts of the South, where freezing rain left hundreds of thousands shivering without electricity Monday. Authorities reported at least 18 weather-related deaths.

    Deep snow — over a foot extending in a 1,300-mile swath from Arkansas to New England — halted traffic, canceled flights and triggered wide school closures Monday. Up to two feet were forecast in some of the harder-hit places.

    There were more than 800,000 power outages in the nation on Monday morning, according to poweroutage.com. Most of them were in the South, where weekend blasts of freezing rain caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, inflicting crippling outages on northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee.

    Utility officials in New Albany, Mississippi, said some homes and businesses could be without electricity for at least a week. In nearby Oxford, where most residents and University of Mississippi students were without power Monday, Mayor Robyn Tannehill said on social media that so many trees, limbs and power lines had fallen that “it looks like a tornado went down every street.”

    “Apparently, the new status symbol in this town is having electricity,” said Marshall Ramsey, a University of Mississippi journalism professor whose family was running a generator at their Oxford home Monday to power a space heater and keep phones charged.

    A pair of burly, falling tree branches damaged real estate agent Tim Phillips’ new garage, broke a window and cut off power to his home in Oxford. He said half of his neighbors had homes or vehicles damaged.

    “It’s just one of those things that you try to prepare for,” Phillips said, “but this one was just unreal.”

    The U.S. had more than 6,400 flight delays and cancellations nationwide Monday, according to flight tracker flightaware.com.

    More light to moderate snow was forecast in New England through Monday evening.

    New York City saw its snowiest day in years, with 11 inches falling on Central Park. Main roads throughout the city were largely clear Monday morning, but pedestrians had to plod through snow on some sidewalks and multiple subway lines with above-ground tracks saw delays.

    Bitter cold grips much of the nation

    Meanwhile, bitter cold followed in the storm’s wake. It got down to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Minnesota on Sunday. Many communities across the Midwest, South, and Northeast awakened Monday to subzero weather. The entire Lower 48 states were forecast to have their coldest average low temperature of minus 9.8 F — since January 2014.

    Record warmth in Florida was the only thing keeping that average from going even colder, said former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue, who calculates national averages based on National Weather Service data.

    From Montana to the Florida Panhandle, the weather service posted cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings as temperatures in many places dipped to zero and even colder. Wind made conditions even chillier and the overnight cold refoze roads early Monday in a cruel reprise of the weekend’s lousy travel weather.

    Even with precipitation ending in Mississippi, “that doesn’t mean the danger is behind us,” Gov. Tate Reeves said in a news conference Sunday.

    Freezing rain that slickened roads and brought trees and branches down on roads and power lines were the main peril in the South over the weekend. In Corinth, Mississippi, heavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar told employees at its remanufacturing site to stay home Monday and Tuesday.

    It already was Mississippi’s worst ice storm since 1994 with its biggest-ever deployment of ice-melting chemicals — 200,000 gallons — plus salt and sand to treat icy roads, Reeves said. He urged people not to drive anywhere unless absolutely necessary. “Do please reach out to friends and family,” Reeves added.

    At one point Sunday morning, about 213 million people were under some sort of winter weather warning, authorities said.

    Some 12,000 flights also were canceled Sunday and nearly 20,000 were delayed.

    Storm leads to deaths in a number of states

    In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people who died were found outside as temperatures plunged Saturday, though the cause of their deaths remained under investigation. Two men died of hypothermia related to the storm in Caddo Parish in Louisiana, according to the state health department.

    In Massachusetts, police said a snowplow backed into a couple walking in a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority parking lot in Norwood on Sunday. A 51-year-old woman was killed and her 47-year-old husband was hospitalized.

    Two teenagers died in sledding accidents, a 17-year-old boy in Arkansas, and a 16-year-old girl in Texas, authorities said.

    Three weather-related deaths were announced in Tennessee, authorities said. Further details were not immediately available.

    ___

    Amy reported from Atlanta. Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. AP journalists Charlotte Kramon in Atlanta; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Kath McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; David Caruso in in New York; Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio; Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana sand Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed to this story.

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  • Roads latest: Delays on I-40 after brine truck overturns, major routes still slick with ice

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    Many people stayed off the roads Sunday as sleet and freezing rain fell. Although the winter storm is over Monday morning, roads across central North Carolina remain covered in ice, and more crashes are likely as drivers head to work.

    Latest: Minor delays, major routes still icy

    7 a.m.: Traffic cams show drivers are traveling slowly on Triangle interstates — as they should. More melting will need to occur before roads are clear, and many roads will be slick as rush hour starts. Stay home if you can.

    Road conditions are widely varied depending on where you are. Western Boulevard in Raleigh was mainly clear, along with Jones Street downtown. However, other secondary roads haven’t been paved and remain treacherous for travel.  

    6 a.m.: Plows are out and about working to clear major and secondary roads. Still, road conditions are widely varied, and WRAL meteorologists recommend staying home if possible until the sun can come out and help with melting. Side streets and elevated surfaces may not be safe for travel.

    “By the time we get to 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. we should start to warm up,” WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said.

    5 a.m.: Although crews have been working to clear major routes like interstates and highways, those thoroughfares remain slick as well. WRAL News recieved a report of an overturned brine truck on Interstate 40 East in Durham. It’s unclear if anyone was injured.

    In downtown Raleigh, crews were starting to clear secondary roads, but WRAL reporter Heidi Kirk noticed the streets and sidewalks were still very slick in places.

    4 a.m.: WRAL reporter Kelsey Coffey found many secondary roads in Cary were surprisingly clear and covered in slush, although slick spots remained. In Durham, however, many secondary roads were icy, and WRAL crews noticed dangerous travel conditons near Southpoint Mall.

    Roads could turn slushy as temperatures rise

    We’re expecting some melting throughout the day on Monday as temperatures rise above freezing, and especially when the sun comes out. Unfortunately, a deep freeze will set in Monday night when lows drop into the single digits in areas, and any wet spots left on the roads could freeze again.

    Stay tuned to WRAL.com and WRAL-TV for the latest travel conditions, and make sure to subscribe to alerts on the WRAL Weather app.

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  • State of emergency: DC region prepares for massive snowfall this weekend – WTOP News

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    A state of emergency is in place in D.C., Maryland and Virginia ahead of what the District’s mayor calls “the largest snowfall” the region has seen in a while.

    Local leaders are bracing for a winter storm that’s slated to pick up steam Saturday night, possibly dropping a foot of snow and sleet across the D.C. region.

    A state of emergency is in place in D.C., Maryland and Virginia ahead of what the District’s mayor called “the largest snowfall” the region has seen in a while.

    Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency in Maryland during a news conference Friday afternoon, following suit with preparations made by Virginia’s governor and D.C.’s mayor. 

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has also put a snow emergency in place. Vehicles parked along certain routes could be ticketed and towed starting Saturday afternoon.

    Emergency preparations in Maryland

    Gov. Moore told WTOP anchors Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer on Friday that the upcoming snowstorm is “unique” because it’s slower moving and cold temperatures could bring more ice.

    He said the state of emergency declaration gives the state “full flexibility” to collaborate with state and federal partners ” to ensure that we are being fully prepared for this storm.”

    “This storm is to be taken very, very seriously. There will be impacts of it that will cover every single part of the state of Maryland. I don’t care where in Maryland you call home, you are going to be impacted by this storm,” Moore said.

    “If we are seeing or monitoring any disruptions within service, they will move as quickly as possible to be able to respond to it,” Moore said of possible service interruptions.

    Moore has requested that President Donald Trump authorize a federal emergency declaration to open up funds for resources and equipment such as generators.

    “This winter storm has the potential to be remarkably dangerous,” Moore said during a Friday news conference. “This winter storm … is not just going to impact the state of Maryland.”

    He urged Marylanders to stay home during and after the storm until crews have cleared the roads.

    “Unless you have a serious emergency, plan to stay home starting tomorrow, adjust your plans for Sunday and Monday now,” Moore said. “Let the professionals do their jobs. Let the team do their work.”

    For those who have to travel, he said to bring along blankets, water and food, and to give snow plows plenty of room on the road.

    “Travel will become extremely hazardous and life threatening, if not impossible, Saturday night into Sunday for much of the state,” Secretary of Emergency Management Russell Strickland said.

    Marylanders in need of help can dial #77 for roadside assistance from state highway crews and first responders.

    Moore said emergency resources, including Maryland National Guard troops, are being deployed around the state in preparation.

    Moore told WTOP that 160 members of the Guard have been activated to help in support roles in state agencies: “We’re really grateful for these remarkable citizen soldiers who have stepped up when our state needs it.”

    “I want to be crystal clear, please use common sense and please show courtesy and grace in the days ahead,” Moore said. “Please stay off the roads. Please look after your neighbors.”

    Temperatures will be frigid over the weekend. Strickland said generators and propane heaters should be used outdoors — not in a garage.

    “This will limit your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning,” Strickland said. “Generators should at least be 20 feet away from the home and away from windows, doors and vents.”

    How Virginia is gearing up for snow

    Speaking with WTOP anchors Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she declared a state of emergency Thursday to allow the Commonwealth to get ready for the potential impacts of the winter storm.

    “It is a constant and evolving process, and frankly, we’ve got incredible people who have been planning for these types of challenges,” she said. “But to have it across the state all at once is a particularly unique challenge in the moment.”

    A snowstorm in 2022 left many drivers stranded on Interstate 95 in Virginia, including Sen. Tim Kaine, who said he was stuck in his car for 21 hours. Spanberger said the state has taken steps to prevent a similar incident.

    “We have taken action early and certainly among the lessons learned from prior strong snowstorms is that it is important to have the flexibility when you need it to be able to respond to a storm,” she said. “Which is why I signed that emergency declaration (Thursday) morning, so that we could begin putting all of the pieces in place.”



    Those pieces include having Virginia National Guard troops placed around the Commonwealth to respond to emergencies and help with road clearing, she said. State police are also monitoring the storm.

    Crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation are already out pretreating roads. And Spanberger said the state’s department of emergency management is working with local governments to make warming stations available.

    “The real complicating factor here is that the temperatures are supposed to be so cold. And so, places where we will see a lot of rain and a lot of freezing rain, the significant worry there is that we’ll see trees come down, and with it, many power lines,” Spanberger said.

    What does a snow emergency mean for DC?

    The District could start towing vehicles on certain routes as soon as a snow emergency kicks in Saturday at noon.

    That snow emergency status is expected to stay in place until 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, though that’s subject to change depending on how the storm impacts the city. D.C. Public Schools were already closed for students on Monday.

    There’s a map of D.C.’s snow emergency routes on WTOP; parking along the highlighted routes could get you ticketed and towed as early as Saturday at noon.

    “We are also requesting vehicle support from the D.C. National Guard to ensure our first responders are able to move around the city during the storm,” Mayor Bowser said. “We expect that to be related to snow clearing, especially for vulnerable communities.”

    Crews have been brining since Thursday at 7 p.m., according to Anthony Crispino, the interim director of the D.C. Department of Public Works.

    “The brine, which is a mixture of salty water, essentially, and beet juice, it allows it to stick to the road surface, and the beet juice, believe it or not, actually allows it to be effective at a lower temperature than the rock salt that we use,” Crispino said. “By laying down the brine, then on top of that the salt, we’re hoping that we have a good base coat, and when the temperatures start to come up, it’ll melt from below.

    When the region gets hit with heavy bands of snow up front, he said the strategy is to, “try and push as much off the snow, and then let the chemicals that we have do the work on the back end.”

    The city said trash pickup next week is likely to slide by a few days.

    “You are responsible for shoveling your sidewalks, you are also responsible for clearing the area in your alley spaces,” Bowser said. “That goes a long way in helping us have access to the alley ways.”

    But Crispino admitted the city was hoping to get salt trucks inside some alleys before the storm hits, to offer up some initial protection. Both he and the mayor also stressed the importance of checking on older neighbors as the storm goes on.

    “It’s going to be very cold next week, which means the snow sticks around,” Bowser said. “We want people to make sure they have food, they have a safe passage in and out.”

    Eight recreation centers will be open if residents lose power and need someplace warm to go. More could be opened up if needed.

    Bowser also noted the importance of getting the city up and running again after the storm.

    “When we have snow events like this, industry suffers,” Bowser said. “Restaurants and hospitality suffer, and if we can’t get open, then their employees and guests can’t get to work and get to their events.”

    “We want to see everybody next week,” she added.

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Jessica Kronzer

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  • ‘All hands on deck’: DC area preps for biggest snow in years – WTOP News

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    D.C.’s Department of Public Works and Maryland are preparing plows, salt trucks, and even the National Guard ahead of a massive winter storm this weekend packing lots of snow.

    D.C. is preparing for a hefty dose of snow this weekend.

    A major winter storm is lining up for the D.C. region, with snow likely breaking out late Saturday and intensifying overnight. To prepare, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch through Monday.

    Forecast models show a high chance of at least five inches, with double-digit totals possible in spots.

    By Sunday, sleet and freezing rain could mix in — especially south of Route 50 and near I-95. Bitter cold follows, with dangerous wind chills into early next week. Travel impacts could linger into Monday morning.

    “We’re looking to get more snow than we’ve got in the previous years,” said Warnique West, D.C.’s “Snow Queen” and director of snow operations for the Department of Public Works.

    “Right now we’re prepping all of our equipment, making sure that it’s ready. We have notified our staff that we’re going to be here for maybe a few days at a time,” West said.

    She’s following weather forecasts and projections for the incoming storm. Starting Thursday night, salt trucks will begin pretreating roadways in the District to help the snow melt once it starts falling. The Department of Public Works called it an “all hands on deck” situation, with approximately 200 city trucks augmented and some 100 contractors providing assistance.

    She said the public can help her crews as they work to make the streets safe.

    “When you see the plows coming, stay at least 100 feet back,” West said.

    If the event becomes a snow emergency, no parking will be allowed on established emergency routes, and cars on those routes will be towed. West urged everyone to cooperate with city crews and move their cars out of the way.

    She also asked for patience in terms of other services the Department of Public Works provides.

    “We’re trying to do the best we can to not just get the streets cleared but see what we can do as far as getting some salt into the alleys, but crews still have to be safe trying to navigate these icy conditions,” she said. “So, if you could just have patience with us, we’re trying to pick up your trash, recycling and compost.”

    D.C.’s neighbors in Maryland are also wasting no time getting ready.

    Ahead of the storm, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of preparedness, which enhances the state’s ability to respond quickly to the hazards that heavy snow and ice could bring.

    “I am directing the Department of Emergency Management to coordinate the comprehensive preparation of State government ahead of potential impacts related to the incoming weather system,” Moore said in a news release.

    According to Moore’s office, the Maryland National Guard is preparing personnel and specialized vehicles across the state for a rapid response. Personnel and vehicles will be prepositioned in Western Maryland, Central Maryland and on the Eastern Shore, according to the governor’s office. 



    FORECAST

    THURSDAY
    Partly cloudy, breezy
    Highs:48-55
    Winds: West 5-15, Gusts 25 mph
    Milder afternoon highs in the 50s will be a welcome change after our recent cold snap. This will be a good day to prepare for the possible snowstorm heading our way for the upcoming weekend.

    THURSDAY NIGHT
    Partly cloudy
    Lows: near 30
    Winds: Calm
    Winds will ease overnight under partly cloudy skies with temps just around 30.

    FRIDAY
    Partly cloudy
    Highs:38-43
    Winds: South 5-10 mph
    The last day of the week with near normal temperatures, an Arctic cold front looks to move through the region during the weekend.

    SATURDAY
    Cloudy, late evening snow
    Highs: near 20
    Winds: North 5-10 mph
    As of now, Saturday daytime looks dry but very cold, with highs around 20 degrees. That should give time to wrap up any pre-storm prep or last-minute shopping. The first flakes may show up Saturday evening, then snow becomes steadier and heavier overnight. If you’re heading out, travel conditions could go downhill pretty quickly.

    SUNDAY
    Snow, moderate to heavy at times
    Highs: 20s
    Winds: North 5-10 mph
    A significant winter storm is expected to bring measurable snow to much of the D.C. region, and it’s going to stay cold with highs in the 20s. 

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Alan Etter

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