US winter storm leaves at least 23 people dead

January 27, 2026 / 9:07 AM

Sharjah24-AFP: Perilously low temperatures threatened millions of Americans on Monday, following a powerful winter storm that swept across large parts of the United States, leaving at least 23 people dead, knocking out power supplies and severely disrupting transport networks.

A life-threatening Arctic air mass settled over wide areas from New Mexico to Maine, complicating recovery efforts after heavy snowfall, strong winds, freezing rain and sleet battered dozens of states. The National Weather Service warned that much of the northern half of the country could remain below freezing until 1 February, with record-low temperatures expected in parts of the South, where many households were still without power.

Heavy snow and rising death toll

Snowfall continued in the northeast, with parts of Connecticut recording more than 22 inches, while Boston saw over 16 inches. Authorities linked at least 23 deaths to the storm, including hypothermia and accidents involving traffic, snowploughs and recreational vehicles. In New York City alone, eight people were found dead as temperatures plunged.

Power outages and emergencies

More than 550,000 customers remained without power, particularly in southern states such as Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Around 190 million people were under extreme cold alerts, and emergency warming shelters were opened nationwide. Officials said the scale of the storm strained resources, as multiple states simultaneously required assistance.