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Storm leaves trail of fatalities and chaos across North America
A powerful winter storm has claimed at least 20 lives in the US and caused widespread disruption from Texas to Maine, while also severely affecting parts of southern Canada. Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed as snow and ice paralyzed major cities over the weekend.
Record snowfall and deadly conditions
The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that some northeastern US areas received over 20 inches (50.8 cm) of snow within 24 hours. New York City's Central Park recorded 11.4 inches by Monday morning, while Toronto's Pearson Airport set a new single-day snowfall record with 18 inches on Sunday.
Officials in multiple states confirmed weather-related fatalities. In Texas, a teenage girl died in a sledding accident, and another remains in critical condition. Louisiana health authorities attributed two deaths to hypothermia, while North Carolina police are investigating whether a man found dead on a highway succumbed to the cold. New York City reported eight storm-related deaths between Friday and Monday.
Travel and infrastructure collapse
Flight tracking service FlightAware reported over 6,000 cancellations and 7,000 delays across US airports on Monday. Road conditions deteriorated rapidly, with icy surfaces and fallen trees blocking major routes. In Nashville, Tennessee, more than half a million customers lost power, leaving residents without heat, internet, or basic services.
"There are many trees down and power lines blocking the roads. The situation is dire-people are calling us because they have no heating, no internet, and no coffee,"
Joy Flores, Vice President, Nashville Rescue Mission
Canadian provinces also hit hard
Southern Ontario faced severe disruptions, with Ottawa and Quebec experiencing transportation delays and widespread school closures. The storm's impact extended to Canada's Maritime provinces, where snowfall is expected to continue through Tuesday.
Relief unlikely as new storm looms
While the current system is moving away from the US, lake-effect snow showers will persist around the Great Lakes for the remainder of the week. The NWS warned that another significant winter storm could strike the eastern US by the weekend, with forecasters unable to pinpoint its exact path or intensity.
"The potential is increasing for widespread heavy precipitation and very cold temperatures," the agency stated, urging residents to prepare for prolonged hazardous conditions.
