New York: A powerful winter storm sweeping across the United States has caused widespread disruption, forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights and leaving large numbers of people without electricity.
The storm brought heavy snow, freezing rain and strong winds to many parts of the country, from the southern states to the northeast. Weather warnings covered more than 100 million people, with extremely cold temperatures reaching areas that are not used to such severe winter conditions.
Air travel was hit especially hard. More than 10,000 flights were cancelled over several days as airports struggled with icy runways and poor visibility. Some major airports saw most of their scheduled flights grounded. Airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest offered passengers free rebooking and travel waivers, but delays and disruptions continued.
Power supply was also badly affected. Ice and falling trees damaged power lines, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without electricity. In some states, outages crossed the one million mark at the peak of the storm. Repair crews worked in difficult conditions to restore service, but officials warned that full recovery could take time.
Road travel became dangerous in many areas. Authorities urged people to stay off the roads as accidents increased due to snow and black ice. Several cities closed schools or shifted to online classes, while warming centers were opened for people without heat.
Emergency services reported several deaths linked to the storm, mainly due to traffic accidents and exposure to extreme cold. Officials reminded residents to check on elderly neighbors and avoid unnecessary travel.
Forecasters said the storm system is slowly moving eastward, but cold air and icy conditions are expected to continue in some regions for the next few days. Authorities warned that even after snowfall ends, freezing temperatures could keep roads and airports unsafe.
The storm is being described as one of the most disruptive winter events of the season, affecting daily life, transport and power supply across large parts of the country.