Snow, sleet and power outages: 150m Americans brace for massive winter storm

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Anna Betts in New YorkJanuary 24, 2026 at 05:02 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

A major winter storm is impacting over 150 million Americans across a wide swath of the United States, from the southern plains to the Northeast. Beginning Saturday, the storm is bringing heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain, threatening widespread power outages and dangerous travel conditions. The National Weather Service warns of potentially catastrophic ice accumulation in the southern plains, lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, and Southeast. Snowfall totals are expected to exceed 12 inches in the Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. As of Saturday morning, approximately 80,000 customers were already without power. Bitterly cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills are expected in the storm's wake.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Donald Trump 40% Oklahoma 50% Iowa 50% Kansas 50% Missouri 50% Louisiana 50% Mississippi 50% Tennessee ×260% Texas ×260% US National Weather Service ×370% United States ×290%

Keywords

winter storm 100% power outages 90% snow 80% freezing rain 80% national weather service 70% ice accumulation 70% sleet 70% bitterly cold temperatures 60% travel disruptions 60%