26 Jan 2026 - 10:04
The Kabul Tribune (KT) - A powerful winter storm has brought dangerous cold, heavy snow and freezing rain across large parts of the United States, leaving at least seven people dead and millions under weather alerts, NBC reported.
Roughly 185 million people across the central and eastern U.S. are under winter weather warnings as temperatures plunge far below normal. Wind chills in some areas have dropped to minus 20 to minus 30 degrees, with temperatures running 10 to 40 degrees below average.
The extreme cold has been blamed for at least seven deaths, including two in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, one in Austin, Texas, and one in Emporia, Kansas, according to local officials. Tennessee authorities also reported three weather-related deaths as the storm continues.
In Knoxville, Tennessee, the fire department shared photos showing a large tree that fell during the storm and destroyed a home around 3:30 p.m. Four people and two dogs were displaced, officials said.
The storm has caused widespread power outages, with more than 860,000 customers left without electricity in affected areas.
Freezing rain has been reported in parts of Georgia, the Carolinas and the mid-Atlantic, while heavy snow continues across the Ohio Valley and the Northeast. Parts of Ohio have seen nearly 17 inches of snow.
Forecasters say the most persistent snowfall will hit New England through tomorrow night. Boston and Albany, New York, could receive 16 to 24 inches of snow, while Hartford, Connecticut, and Portland, Maine, may see up to 12 to 18 inches.
In Massachusetts, a 51-year-old woman died after being struck by a snowplow truck in a commuter rail parking lot. Her 47-year-old husband was injured and taken to a hospital. Police said the truck was operated by a private contractor, and the incident remains under investigation.
The storm has also disrupted air travel. More than 12,000 flights were canceled today, with over 3,000 additional cancellations reported for tomorrow, NBC said.
Weather conditions are expected to gradually improve later this week, though snow and bitter cold may linger in some areas.
