A major winter storm bringing ice and snow threatens power outages and dangerous travel for 160 million across the US, with states declaring emergencies.
A massive winter storm was set to drop a mix of freezing rain and heavy snow on some 160 million Americans starting Friday.
Multiple US states declared states of emergency as the storm began marching across much of the continental US.
The National Weather Service warned it could bring “catastrophic ice accumulation” and result in “long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions.”
The storm was expected to linger for days, shifting into the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states.
More than 1,800 weekend flights have already been cancelled, according to tracker Flightaware.
State officials in Texas vowed the grid that failed during a deadly winter storm five years ago was now better prepared.
“The grid has never been stronger, never been more prepared and is fully capable of handling this winter storm,” said Republican Governor Greg Abbott.
Professor Daniel Cohan of Rice University told AFP the system was indeed better winterized and that the state has added solar production and storage since 2021.
In New York state, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul warned of extreme cold that could make even short trips outdoors dangerous.
“Five or six minutes outside could literally be dangerous for your health,” she said, adding that emergency crews were fully mobilized.
The storm is set to usher in frigid temperatures and dangerous winds that could last a week in some areas.
Parts of the Upper Midwest were already experiencing wind chills forecast to hit -55F (-48C).
The brutal storm system is the result of a stretched polar vortex, which sends cold air spilling across North America.
Scientists say the increasing frequency of such disruptions may be linked to climate change, though the debate is not settled.
President Donald Trump questioned how the cold front fit into broader climate shifts on his platform Truth Social.
State officials were more focused on the immediate threats, with at least 14 states declaring states of emergency.
Political leaders across the country were encouraging people to stock up on food and prepare supply kits.
In Magnolia, north of Houston, one supermarket was close to running out of bottled water.
“If the power stays on, we should all be fine,” local resident Anne Schultz, 68, told AFP.
