Washington, Jan 25 (NationPress) A severe winter storm has engulfed a vast area of the United States, unleashing snow and ice, driving temperatures dramatically lower than usual, causing power outages for tens of thousands of residences, and prompting emergency declarations in over 20 states, as reported by various media outlets and governmental authorities.

Approximately 190 million individuals — more than half of the US populace — were under winter weather alerts spanning 37 states, from the Rocky Mountains to New England. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain extended from New Mexico through the Tennessee Valley, while heavier snowfall moved into sections of the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions, as per officials.

The storm introduced dangerously low temperatures across much of the central and eastern United States. Wind chills plummeted into the minus 20s and 30s in certain areas, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 40 degrees below normal seasonal averages, according to meteorological reports.

As ice and heavy snow burdened power lines and damaged infrastructure, power failures escalated. By Saturday, over 132,000 homes nationwide were left without electricity, based on outage tracking data referenced by US media. The South and Southwest, including Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, bore the brunt of these outages.

Texas reported over 57,000 customers without power by Saturday afternoon, while Louisiana faced more than 45,000 outages, accounting for roughly 2% of the state's total. Officials indicated that outages in Louisiana were concentrated in the northern regions, where the freezing rain and ice were most severe.

The storm heavily disrupted travel, particularly air traffic. Over 9,000 flights were canceled nationwide over the weekend, with further cancellations anticipated as the system moved eastward, according to flight-tracking agencies.

Authorities cautioned that Sunday might be one of the most challenging days for weather-related air travel disruptions in US aviation history. American Airlines canceled more than a third of its scheduled flights, while nearly 85% of departures from New York's LaGuardia Airport were scrapped, as reported by airline and airport data.

Airports in Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, and Nashville were among those most significantly impacted.

As the situation deteriorated, emergency declarations were rapidly issued. At least 20 states—including Texas, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and multiple Midwestern and Southern states—declared states of emergency. Washington, D.C. also declared a state of emergency, officials confirmed.

President Donald Trump approved federal emergency declarations for various states, enabling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with emergency operations such as debris removal and protective measures.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urged residents to follow local instructions and avoid unnecessary travel. “We want to remind everyone that in these emergency disaster situations, it's your local officials and emergency managers who execute responses to these disasters,” Noem stated. “Your states manage it, and the federal government is here to support.”

National Guard units were mobilized across extensive regions of the country. Guardsmen from at least 12 states were deployed to assist in clearing roads, aiding stranded motorists, and supporting local communities, according to officials.

In South Carolina, authorities warned residents to prepare for prolonged outages. Governor Henry McMaster indicated that certain areas might be without power for several days due to significant ice accumulation. “You may be without electricity for maybe four days or longer,” McMaster advised, emphasizing the need to check on neighbors and vulnerable populations.

Weather officials characterized the storm as the most severe ice event in the region in nearly two decades, warning of widespread tree damage, downed power lines, and impassable roads.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger described the approaching storm as potentially “catastrophic,” highlighting the risks of heavy snowfall, significant ice, and prolonged power outages even after precipitation ceases.

Federal offices in the Washington, D.C. area were ordered to close on Monday, with maximum telework implemented. Emergency personnel were instructed to report unless otherwise notified, officials stated.

Public transportation systems also ceased operations in anticipation of hazardous conditions. New Jersey Transit announced the suspension of most bus, light rail, and commuter rail services, cautioning that service would not resume until conditions were safe.

The storm reignited concerns regarding the resilience of the US power grid, particularly in Texas. The US Department of Energy issued an emergency order allowing the Texas grid operator to deploy backup generation resources to avert widespread blackouts, officials reported.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the administration was working to ensure all available power generation could be utilized during the storm. Federal officials noted warnings from reliability monitors that extreme weather combined with increasing winter demand continues to strain parts of the national grid.

Utilities nationwide mobilized tens of thousands of workers from various states to expedite power restoration as conditions allowed, according to industry officials.

Forecasters suggested that conditions should gradually improve next week, although snow and extreme cold may persist in parts of New England and around the Great Lakes. Until then, authorities urged individuals to stay home when possible, limit travel, and prepare for extended disruptions as the storm continues its eastward progression.