Snowstorm Devastates United States, 30 Dead

A severe snowstorm and record-breaking cold have wreaked havoc across multiple states in the United States, claiming at least 30 lives, according to a report by the British daily The Guardian, citing US news agency AP. The deadly winter conditions have impacted regions stretching from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Arkansas, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Tennessee.

New York City Mayor Johnathan Mamdani reported that five people have died in the city over the past two days alone. Some of the fatalities were caused by road accidents and other incidents, while others succumbed to hypothermia—a potentially fatal condition that occurs when prolonged exposure to extreme cold lowers the body’s core temperature, leading to intense shivering, dehydration, and other physical symptoms.

Meteorologists attribute the extreme chill to frigid air currents descending from the Arctic. Since the start of the week, much of the country has been gripped by a sharp cold wave. Currently, two-thirds of the United States, the world’s third-largest country by land area, remains covered by thick layers of snow.

The US National Weather Service has issued a ‘Cold Alert’ for more than 20 million residents, part of the country’s total population of just over 348.6 million. Authorities have warned citizens to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary and to take precautions against exposure to extreme cold.

The storm has also triggered a spike in electricity demand, straining the power grid and causing widespread outages. According to PowerOutage.com, over 670,000 homes across multiple states were left without electricity as of Monday, leaving millions struggling to cope with the freezing temperatures.

Educational institutions have announced temporary closures, with schools, colleges, and universities remaining shut until weather conditions improve. Travel has been severely disrupted, with airports cancelling thousands of flights. Data from aviation authorities indicate that more than 17,000 flights were cancelled on Sunday, with over 10,000 further cancellations on Monday. This marks the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that the US has experienced such a large number of flight disruptions over two consecutive days.

Authorities continue to monitor conditions closely, urging residents to remain vigilant and take all necessary safety measures to protect themselves and their families from the ongoing winter emergency.

The table below summarises the key impacts of the snowstorm:

In summary, the United States continues to face a severe winter emergency, with snow-covered states, disrupted power supplies, cancelled flights, and extreme cold posing a significant threat to life and daily activity across the country.