Over 174,000 Americans remain trapped without power in subfreezing temperatures as a second devastating winter storm slams the Southeast.
Story Snapshot
A “bomb cyclone” with 70 mph winds is burying the Southeast under up to one foot of snow, creating blizzard conditions in areas with zero snow removal equipment
More than 174,000 families in Mississippi and Tennessee have endured days without electricity in record cold, with West Virginia plunging to minus 27 degrees Fahrenheit
Over 100 weather-related deaths have been reported since last week’s storm, with emergency rooms overwhelmed by hypothermia and frostbite cases
Transportation chaos has grounded 2,400 flights and caused over 200 collisions in North Carolina alone as the storm paralyzes the region
Bomb Cyclone Delivers Unprecedented Snowfall to Unprepared Region
A rapidly intensifying “bomb cyclone” exploded off the Carolina coast Saturday, transforming a winter storm into a catastrophic blizzard that dumped 6 to 12 inches of snow across the Southeast. National Weather Service lead meteorologist Bob Oravec confirmed the storm’s explosive strengthening created wind gusts reaching 70 mph, generating whiteout conditions throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee. Parts of North Carolina are expected to receive up to one foot of accumulation, while even coastal Myrtle Beach, South Carolina—a city completely lacking snow removal equipment—braces for six inches of unprecedented snowfall.
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Power Grid Collapse Creates Life-Threatening Crisis
The compounding impact of back-to-back winter storms has left more than 174,000 homes and businesses without electricity, primarily in Mississippi and Tennessee, according to PowerOutage.us tracking data. Many residents have been stranded without power since the previous week’s icy onslaught, now facing a second wave of subfreezing temperatures with no relief in sight. The dangerous combination of extreme cold and prolonged power outages has created exactly the type of government infrastructure failure that Americans paying sky-high utility bills should never have to endure. Social media reports from Nashville reveal mounting frustration as residents enter their second week without basic electrical service.
Death Toll Climbs as Medical Experts Warn of Frostbite Epidemic
Officials confirm over 100 weather-related fatalities have occurred since last week’s initial storm battered the region. Dr. David Nestler, an emergency medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic, warned that frostbite can develop rapidly in the extreme cold, particularly threatening southern populations unaccustomed to such conditions and lacking adequate winter clothing. The National Weather Service’s Oravec emphasized that prolonged exposure in areas experiencing power outages poses severe health risks, stating frostbite can occur quickly when cold weather advisories are in effect. Record-breaking temperatures, including West Virginia’s minus 27 degrees Fahrenheit, have pushed emergency rooms beyond capacity treating hypothermia and cold-exposure injuries.
Transportation Network Collapses Under Winter Assault
The storm has paralyzed regional transportation, with FlightAware reporting over 2,400 flight cancellations as airlines ground operations across the Southeast. North Carolina state police documented more than 200 vehicle collisions on Saturday alone as treacherous road conditions overwhelmed drivers unfamiliar with winter weather navigation. Cruise ship departures faced disruptions, and highway departments struggled to maintain passable roads without adequate snow removal infrastructure. The National Guard has deployed troops to 15 states to assist with emergency response and recovery operations, underscoring the unprecedented scale of this crisis for a region that typically sees little to no winter weather preparation in government planning.
NEW: A powerful and rare winter storm is slamming the southeast with heavy snow and bitter cold. pic.twitter.com/6VrEPSG6oI
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 1, 2026
Florida is experiencing its coldest temperatures in decades, with extreme cold warnings issued for areas that rarely see freezing conditions. Every single county in the Carolinas remains under winter storm warnings as forecasters predict snow will taper Sunday morning but freezing temperatures will persist into early next week.
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A second major winter storm bringing rare, heavy snowfall to the Southeast U.S.
Snow Buries the U.S. Interior and East
East Coast storm: Winter weather “bomb cyclone” brings wind, snow, and cold
Winter storm threatens to drop snow as dangerous cold lingers
