A powerful winter storm has killed at least 38 people across 14 US states, as large parts of the central and eastern United States remain locked in snow, ice, and dangerously low temperatures, according to local authorities and media reports.
The storm began developing on Friday and intensified over the weekend, spreading heavy snowfall and freezing rain across a wide region. The extreme weather disrupted road travel, triggered widespread flight cancellations, and caused extensive power outages. Although snowfall eased by Monday, bitter cold conditions continue to pose serious risks.
By Tuesday, more than 550,000 homes and businesses nationwide were still without electricity. Cities activated emergency response plans, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable residents, including people experiencing homelessness.
New York City hit hardest
New York City recorded 10 storm-related deaths, the highest reported by any single city so far. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said temperatures dropped to minus 13 degrees Celsius, the coldest the city has experienced in eight years.
All of the victims were found outdoors, though officials said it remains unclear whether they were homeless. Some had previous contact with the city’s shelter system, according to the mayor.
In response to the extreme weather, the city postponed its annual homeless population count required by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, shifting resources toward emergency outreach efforts.
“Outreach workers should be focused on bringing New Yorkers inside, not on data collection,” Mamdani said, adding that extreme weather should not be seen as a personal failure.
Officials said around 500 people living on the streets or in the subway system have been placed in shelters since January 19. Outreach teams are conducting frequent wellness checks on hundreds of individuals considered at high medical risk.
Nashville faces historic ice storm
In Nashville, Tennessee, officials described the situation as a historic ice storm, with temperatures expected to fall to minus 14 degrees Celsius and wind chills dropping even lower.
More than 135,000 homes and businesses in the city remain without power. Local authorities said all homeless shelters and additional overflow facilities are filled, housing approximately 1,400 people.
Police officers, firefighters, and emergency workers are working extended shifts to assist residents and check on those exposed to the cold.
The Nashville Rescue Mission reported a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking shelter during the cold snap, far exceeding typical nightly numbers.
Storm-related deaths reported nationwide
Across the country, storm-related deaths have been attributed to hypothermia, prolonged exposure to cold, and medical emergencies during snow and ice removal.
In Bonham, Texas, three young boys died after falling into an icy pond over the weekend, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation. In Austin, a person died of apparent hypothermia while attempting to shelter at an abandoned gas station.
Additional hypothermia-related deaths have been reported in Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Michigan.
Cold warnings remain in place
Nearly 200 million Americans remain under some form of winter cold warning through at least February 1, forecasters said.
Meteorologists are also monitoring the potential for another winter storm that could impact parts of the eastern United States later this week.
