East Coast Storm: Power Outages & Flight Cancellations

NEWARK,January 25,2026 – More than 10,000 flights were canceled on sunday,marking the highest single-day total since the COVID-19 pandemic began,as a ferocious winter storm grips the Atlantic coast and beyond. The widespread disruptions are a stark reminder of how vulnerable travel and essential services remain to extreme weather events.

Storm batters East Coast,Leaving Hundreds of Thousands in the Dark

A massive winter storm is causing widespread power outages and travel chaos from Texas to the Mid-South.

• A severe winter storm is impacting a vast area,stretching from Texas to the Mid-South and up the Atlantic coast.
• Over 10,000 flights were canceled on Sunday alone, the highest number since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Nearly 933,000 homes and businesses are without power, primarily in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
• The U.S. Department of Energy has taken emergency measures to bolster grid stability.

The storm, which began on Sunday, brought heavy snow and ice, triggering power outages and grounding flights across a large swath of the country. Freezing rain was especially damaging, downing power lines and leaving approximately 933,000 homes and businesses without electricity, with Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana bearing the brunt of the outages.

Air travel has been severely impacted. More than 80% of departures were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy International Airport, stranding passengers and disrupting travel plans. Several airlines collectively canceled over 10,000 flights on Sunday, exceeding the number of cancellations recorded on Saturday by more than double.

Did you know? – Winter storms are among the most common severe weather events in the U.S., causing billions of dollars in damage annually. Readiness and awareness are key to minimizing risk.

WhatS causing the grid strain? Increased demand for heating during the frigid temperatures is overwhelming power grids in several states.

In response to the escalating crisis, the U.S. Department of Energy directed the Texas grid operator to utilize backup functions at data centers to alleviate stress on the system. Additionally, an emergency order was issued allowing PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. grid, to exceed operational limits typically dictated by environmental regulations or state laws, aiming to prevent further outages.

The surge in demand for electricity has also driven up wholesale prices. Electricity prices have doubled in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, adding financial strain to both households and businesses.

Pro tip – During power outages, disconnect appliances to prevent a surge when electricity is restored. Use generators safely outdoors, away from windows.

Meteorologist Paul Ziegenfelder of the Weather Prediction Center indicated the storm is expected to continue causing disruptions, with temperatures remaining “freezing.”

This severe weather event isn’t just an inconvenience; it presents meaningful economic challenges. The combined impact of power outages and flight cancellations directly affects businesses and the broad

Description of Changes & Answers to Questions:

* Why did this happen? A ferocious winter storm brought heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain across a large swath of the country, from Texas to the Mid-South and up the Atlantic coast. Increased demand for heating during frigid temperatures overwhelmed power grids.
* Who was affected? Over 933,000 homes and businesses lost power, primarily in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. More than 10,0