Winter Mega Storm Knocks Out Power and Impacts Over 11,000 Flights
Over the last three days, a massive winter megastorm has impacted large portions of the U.S., leaving 800,000+ without power and 11,000+ without flights. Beyond travel disruption and negative temperatures, the scale and urgency of this snowy blast has been one of the most severe in decades.
According to CBN News, the most affected regions have included the Midwest, Northeast, and South. Weather conditions have resulted in snow, ice, freezing rain, sleet, and high winds. Compared to typical winter storms and past severe events, this one is a doozy. With more than 200 million Americans impacted, 20+ governors have declared states of emergency, ranging from Level 3 road closures to an ice-skating rink-like highway.
As of Monday morning, January 26th, 2026, the storm has caused widespread power outages, transportation disruptions, emergency response system alerts, and numerous injuries, fatalities, and rescue concerns. USA Today even reports that at least 13 people have died as a result of these brutal conditions.
“The dangers aren't over even with the precipitation ending," said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center. "A lot of the areas that are still getting the heavy ice, freezing rain, sleet, and snow, will stay below freezing through the work week.”
Hurley is right. While the snow and sleet may have come to a halt for now, the 72-hour snowfall dumping more than a foot of snow in twenty states will take at least a week to recover from. Today, over 85 million people are under a cold weather warning as the weekly forecast predicts negative temperatures (not including wind chill or feels like temperatures) for many across the globe. Costing the county more than $100 billion, it will take time for states to recover financial assets, powerlines, and safety measures.
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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images / Albany Times Union/Hearst Newspapers / Contributor
Originally published January 27, 2026.
