A massive winter storm sweeping across the United States has left at least 25 people dead, triggered widespread power outages, and caused historic disruptions to air and ground travel, marking one of the most severe winter weather events in years.

Winter Storm Fern dumped heavy snow, ice and freezing rain across a vast stretch of the country, from the southern Plains to New England. More than 30 centimeters (one foot) of snow fell across a 2,100-kilometer corridor, while some areas north of Pittsburgh recorded up to 50 centimeters (20 inches). The National Weather Service warned of wind chills plunging as low as -31°C (-25°F) in parts of the Northeast.

Travel chaos and record flight cancellations

The storm brought the US transportation system to a near standstill. On Sunday alone, more than 11,000 flights were canceled, making it the worst single day for cancellations since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. An additional 2,000 flights were canceled on Monday, with major disruptions reported at airports in Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia.

Flight-tracking service FlightAware reported over 8,000 delays and cancellations nationwide on Monday, as hazardous conditions made travel unpredictable. The cruise industry was also affected, with Carnival Cruise Line warning passengers departing from Baltimore of significant itinerary disruptions due to weather conditions.

Power outages and humanitarian impact

According to poweroutage.com, more than 750,000 customers were without electricity nationwide by Monday afternoon, with the highest concentration of outages in southern states such as Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas, where ice-laden rain snapped trees and downed power lines.

Mississippi authorities described the event as the state’s worst ice storm since 1994, rushing to distribute cots, blankets, bottled water and generators to warming centers. The University of Mississippi canceled classes for the entire week as its Oxford campus remained encased in dangerous ice.

Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill said the damage was so extensive that “it looks like a tornado went through every street,” with fallen trees and power lines blocking roads and damaging homes.

Rising death toll across multiple states

The growing death toll includes people struck by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents involving teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and multiple exposure-related deaths. In New York City, officials said at least eight people were found dead outdoors during the freezing weekend, with investigations ongoing.

Authorities also reported fatalities in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Mississippi, New Jersey and Kansas, where police discovered the body of a 28-year-old teacher buried under snow after she was last seen leaving a bar without a coat or phone.

Northeast digs out as Arctic cold follows

While snowfall began tapering off in some areas, meteorologists warned that dangerous cold would persist. New York City recorded its snowiest day in years, with 28 centimeters (11 inches) in Central Park. Subway lines with elevated tracks experienced delays, and pedestrians struggled to navigate snow-covered sidewalks.

The cold snap that followed the storm pushed temperatures below freezing across much of the Midwest, South and Northeast. Forecasts indicated that the 48 contiguous states would experience their coldest average low temperature since January 2014, with Florida’s record warmth being the only factor preventing an even lower national average.

A nation on alert

Although the core of the storm system has moved offshore, the National Weather Service warned that light to moderate snow could continue in parts of New England through Monday night, while emergency crews remain on high alert as communities recover from power losses, infrastructure damage and dangerous cold.

As millions of Americans face disrupted travel, power outages and extreme temperatures, authorities continue to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel and check on vulnerable populations as winter’s grip tightens across the country.