Connect with us

News

Power outages and canceled flights as winter storm brings snow, sleet and ice

Published

on

Power outages and canceled flights as winter storm brings snow, sleet and ice

A man carries a shovel as he crosses a street in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood in New York on Sunday.

Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images


hide caption

toggle caption

Advertisement

Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

An immense and powerful winter storm is blanketing the eastern two-thirds of the United States with a mix of heavy snow, dangerous ice and frigid temperatures, affecting tens of millions of people from New Mexico to New England.

Nearly a million customers across the South were without power on Sunday evening, as the effects of the weekend’s massive weather system began to take hold. Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas were among the hardest hit.

States from Missouri to Maine were under a winter storm warning on Sunday. National Weather Service forecasters were particularly concerned about freezing rain and ice.

Advertisement

“Whenever we see these big ice events, we’ll see various hazards; obviously bridges and overpasses being frozen over, and with trees and various different things that could fall into the roadways or potentially fall on houses,” Nicholas Price, an NWS meteorologist in Texas, told NPR earlier.

The storm severely disrupted air travel. By Sunday evening, over 11,000 flights had been canceled in the U.S. and more than 4,700 were delayed, according to FlightAware.

Officials in multiple states also warned drivers to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

Reporters from across the NPR Network are covering the storm in each state — the impact and how officials are responding. We’ve also got tips for interpreting different weather notices, protecting your home or vehicle ahead of time, and for staying safe once the storm hits.

Alabama

  • Northwest portions of the state, including Lauderdale County, are some of the areas impacted most by the storm.
  • Under 2,000 people are without power in western parts of Lauderdale County, according to Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency Director Brad Holmes. Up to an inch of ice has accumulated on power lines and trees, with over 100 trees reported down across roadways throughout the county, Holmes told NPR on Sunday.
  • About 11 vehicles got stuck or slid off the road, with at least three crashes, while five people have been transported to the hospital because of falls, Holmes also said.
  • Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency and activated the Alabama National Guard. More than 350 service members have been activated and are assisting efforts in North Alabama, according to the Alabama National Guard.
  • The Alabama Department of Transportation on Sunday urged people to “avoid travel after temperatures drop and wait for conditions to improve.”

Arkansas

  • Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency Thursday and deployed at least 170 national guard service members to assist with the storm. The Arkansas National Guard said it was assisting Arkansas State Police. 

Connecticut

Delaware

  • By Sunday afternoon, several areas had recorded more than 6 inches of snow. 
  • Gov. Matt Meyer urged residents to stay home. “This is not a let-me-run-out-to-the-convenience-store-real-quick kind of storm,” he said in a video on social media. “Let’s do everything we can to keep each other safe.”
  • Beginning Sunday morning in New Castle and Kent Counties, driving was limited to emergency workers, public utilities, health care providers, snow removal operations, food and fuel deliveries and those with approved waivers. 
  • Department of Transportation Community Relations Director C.R. McLeod said staff brined roads statewide on Friday to get ahead of freezing conditions once precipitation began.

District of Columbia

Georgia

  • The storm brought freezing rain, sleet, and snow to parts of northern and middle Georgia. A winter storm warning is in effect through Monday.
  • The University of Georgia closed its campus and announced that all in-person classes, campus events and activities will be canceled on Monday. The impacts of the storm will likely be felt days after the worst of the weather has passed, as officials say hazardous road conditions could affect Monday morning commutes. 

For more information, head to WUGA.

Illinois

  • A snow emergency has been declared by the City of Springfield’s Office of Public Works through Monday at noon.
  • There have been eight collisions with snowplows, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. “That’s 8 fewer plows clearing roads. If you can, please stay home. If you must drive, slow down, don’t crowd the plow, and give our crews plenty of space to work safely,” the agency said on Sunday.

Indiana

  • The NWS warned of frostbite and said wind chills could reach 20 degrees below zero on Monday in northern Indiana. 
  • The Indiana Department of Transportation said Sunday there have been “multiple reports of crashes and slide-offs” and is urging people to stay off the roads.
  • Indiana’s electric grid operator declared a conservation alert, asking customers to conserve energy and prepare for the possibility of “planned outages.”
  • Parts of Indiana recorded more than 12 inches of snow by mid-day Sunday and forecasters warned of another 1-3 inches late Sunday into Monday in the northern part of the state.

Kentucky

A vehicle drives through snowy conditions on Sunday in Louisville, Ky.

A vehicle drives through snowy conditions on Sunday in Louisville, Ky.

Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Advertisement


hide caption

toggle caption

Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Advertisement
  • At least 75,000 people were without power “and that number is expected to increase as ice accumulates,” Gov. Andy Beshear said on Sunday. 
  • There are 113 warming centers across the commonwealth, according to officials.
  • The NWS says central and eastern Kentucky could get the most snow they’ve seen in 10 years. Ice accumulations are more than expected, Beshear said.
  • In the city of Lexington, the storm “will more than likely take its place among the top 10” since 1887, says Emergency Management Director Rob Larkin.
  • Kentucky Utilities has an instant text and call alert service to inform customers about outages.

Louisiana

  • More than 140,000 customers were without power on Sunday afternoon.
  • Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency, which his office says “activates the State’s emergency response and recovery program, allowing for direct state assistance to support operational measures at the parish level.”
  • In the northern city of Monroe, Mayor Friday Ellis declared a state of emergency.

For more resources on Louisiana, head to KEDM.

Maine

  • Snow was expected to pick up in the far northern state Sunday afternoon, but the NWS office in Gray said Sunday morning that it had already received reports of light snow and flurries.
  • Wind chills could reach 25 below zero on Sunday through Monday. “Probably the coldest temperatures are going to be seen up north and across the Western Maine mountains,” said Steven Baron, a meteorologist in Gray.
  • Snow was forecast to fall Sunday afternoon through Monday evening.

Maryland

  • Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and urged people to stay off the roads and to check on neighbors.
  • Hundreds of flights were canceled at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Sunday.
  • The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter is looking for people to foster dogs.

Massachusetts

Mississippi

  • More than 150,000 customers were without power on Sunday afternoon. Gov. Tate Reeves said power restoration was hindered by icy roads across the state.
  • Todd Jordan, mayor of Tupelo, told NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe that the state has been experiencing power outages. He said the biggest issue the state is seeing is downed trees due to freezing rain. 

Missouri

Nebraska

  • Several cities, including Lincoln and Omaha, are activating warming centers for people seeking a reprieve from the frigid temperatures. 

New Hampshire

  • As the Granite State braces for extreme cold, including temperatures of -30 degrees and wind gusts of up to 100 miles per hour, New Hampshire Public Radio has resources for finding shelters and staying safe in the frigid weather.
  • Warming centers were open across the state, with people encouraged to call 211 to find the nearest location, Gov. Kelly Ayotte said.
  • New Hampshire Fish and Game Sergeant Matthew Holmes is warning hikers against venturing out during the storm, but also offered recommendations on how to stay safe in hazardous conditions. “Although [hiking] is something that I worry about, and often drives me nuts, I know it’s going to happen and we’re going to have folks out there,” he said.

New Jersey

  • On the heels of her inauguration, Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced an emergency declaration that went into effect for all 21 counties. Sherrill also announced a commercial vehicle travel restriction on interstate highways.
  • Snow fell steadily across New Jersey on Sunday. Trenton had received more than 7 inches of snow by early afternoon, the NWS reported.
  • State offices were set to be closed Monday, and New Jersey Transit temporarily suspended bus, light rail and Access Link on Sunday. 
  • Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport warned businesses not to violate the state’s price gouging law during the snowstorm.

New York

  • State officials said most of New York is expected to receive 1-2 feet of snow, while New York City and Long Island could get sleet.
  • Gov. Kathy Hochul urged residents to stay indoors, layer to stay warm and check on their neighbors.
  • The largest school district in the U.S. will hold remote classes on Monday. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said city schools would operate remotely, though school buildings would be closed.
  • Parts of the North Country could see wind chills as low as 50 below zero. Much of Central New York is also preparing for a week-long winter cold snap.
  • Bonus: Gothamist has recommendations for how to make the most of the snowstorm.

For more resources by region in New York, head to WSKG.

North Carolina

For more resources in North Carolina, including where to find shelter, head to WUNC.

Ohio

  • The National Weather Service is predicting a total snowfall of eight inches to a foot in central Ohio this weekend. 
  • Rock salt shortages may make driving in Northeast Ohio this winter more treacherous than usual.
  • As extremely cold temperatures grip Northeast Ohio, emergency doctors are warning that frostbite can develop faster than many parents realize, especially in children. “Thirty minutes or less typically is all the time that’s required to develop frostbite in exposed individuals when the windchill is near zero,” said MetroHealth emergency physician Dr. Jeremiah Escajeda. She advises dressing children in layers, keeping extremities covered and changing out of wet clothing.

For the latest in Ohio, head to WVXU.

Oklahoma

  • The winter storm has exited Oklahoma, as the state saw multiple rounds of snow on Sunday. 
  • While the storm has largely passed, officials say hazardous road conditions remain and the biggest danger going forward will be the cold temperatures that are forecast to drop as low as -15. 

Pennsylvania

  • By early afternoon Sunday, multiple Pennsylvania cities had already seen more than half a foot of snow. Philadelphia received 7.4 inches as of 1 p.m. ET, while 8.4 inches fell in Reading and Allentown received 9.2 inches.
  • Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker urged residents to “please remain off the roads unless you absolutely have to travel.” City schools will be closed Monday. SEPTA suspended all bus and light rail operations.
  • Photos show the extent of Philadelphia’s first major storm of the year.
  • Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor said he’s “expecting the worst” from the storm, which is projected to drop between 9-14 inches of snow on the area. He said he is prepared to call in additional contractors and haulers to deal with the snow.
  • This could be the most significant winter storm in Pittsburgh in five years. “We’ll be on the northwest fringe of this storm track where the heavy snow will be occurring,” NWS meteorologist Chris Leonardi said of Pittsburgh.
  • Central Pennsylvania will also see double-digit snowfall and cold temperatures.
  • Gov. Josh Shapiro said Sunday that 2,600 plow trucks were out clearing Pennsylvania roads.

South Carolina

  • NWS offices across the state issued a variety of alerts, including an ice storm warning and a winter weather advisory, which will run through Monday morning.
  • Gov. Henry McMaster urged South Carolinians to heed emergency warnings.
  • State Transportation Secretary Justin Powell said 3,000 road crew personnel will work statewide through the storm’s duration. Powell said 1.5 million gallons of brine have already been put on the roads.
  • Forecast models show ice thickness between 0.5 and 1 inches occurring around Greenville and Rock Hill by the time the winter storm’s precipitation ends on Monday. Low temperatures on Tuesday morning are expected to reach the single digits across parts of the Upstate.

Tennessee

Memphis residents shovel snow from a sidewalk in downtown Memphis, Tenn., on Sunday.

Memphis residents shovel snow from a sidewalk in downtown Memphis, Tenn., on Sunday.

Kevin Wurm/AFP via Getty Images


hide caption

toggle caption

Advertisement

Kevin Wurm/AFP via Getty Images

  • The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said Sunday that much of the state is experiencing snow or sleet, with freezing rain set to come later. Much of the state will also receive a quarter-inch of ice, while some areas will see a half-inch, TEMA said.
  • More than 316,000 customers have lost power in Tennessee, and power restoration could take days. WPLN’s Rose Gilbert told NPR’s Weekend Edition that Nashville had seen a spike in outages. “People have reported hearing these loud cracking noises, with trees coming down — as well as what looks like lightning, but is related either to transformers blowing out or arcing from the power lines,” Gilbert said.
  • But there were also moments of levity as the storm beared down. On Saturday, Gilbert observed dozens of people sledding at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville “with everything from old-fashioned wooden sleds to pool floaties and cardboard boxes. It was a bit of a party scene. There was kind of an ad hoc après-ski sort of feel.”

For the latest in Tennessee, head to WKNO.

Texas

  • At least one person is confirmed to have died from extreme cold, according to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. 
  • The Austin area is experiencing a thicker than anticipated layer of frozen precipitation, making road conditions treacherous.
  • Colder temperatures are still to come: “Tonight, it is going to get very, very cold, so any moisture that’s left out there … it is going to refreeze,” Brian Mason, the city of Houston’s emergency management director, said on Sunday. “When the sun goes down, please make sure you’re off the roads and take the burden off our first responders that will be out in the field.” Southeast Texas is under an extreme cold warning through Tuesday morning.
  • Early voting in the Houston City Council election was initially scheduled to continue through Tuesday, but the polls are closed Sunday and Monday because of inclement weather. Schools across the state also announced closures.

For more resources in Texas, head to Texas Public Radio.

Vermont

  • Forecasters predict snowfall reaching 8 to 16 inches, with up to 2 feet possible in some areas.
  • Seven extreme cold weather shelter locations will be open over the weekend. Most are part of a state-funded network of overflow shelters that activate when temperatures fall into the negatives.
  • The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles has also placed a travel restriction on Route 9 through 7:00 p.m. Monday.

Virginia

  • Gov. Abigail Spanberger issued an emergency declaration and said it will take time for state agencies to clear roads in the coming days and asked people to stay home.
  • The Virginia State Police on Sunday urged people to avoid travel, saying wet roads across the state will turn icy overnight.
  • Virginia State Police also told NPR that as of Sunday night they had responded to 378 crashes, 28 of which had injuries. There had been one fatal crash, which Virginia State Police was investigating in northern Virginia in Fairfax County, although weather was not being looked at as a factor in this crash.

West Virginia

  • As temperatures drop, the West Virginia Department of Transportation urged people to be aware of black ice: “We need you to PAY ATTENTION and SLOW DOWN when traveling in these conditions.”
  • Warming centers for unhoused people have opened across the state. “We won’t turn anybody away,” said shelter director Crystal Neff. “We’ll find ’em a sleeping bag or a blanket, whatever we have, to make sure everybody’s safe.”

 

News

Map: 5.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes off the Coast of California

Published

on

Map: 5.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes off the Coast of California

Advertisement

Note: Map shows the area with a shake intensity of 3 or greater, which U.S.G.S. defines as “weak,” though the earthquake may be felt outside the areas shown.  All times on the map are Pacific time. The New York Times

Advertisement

A moderately strong, 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The temblor happened at 5:45 a.m. Pacific time about 40 miles west of Petrolia, Calif., data from the agency shows.

Advertisement

As seismologists review available data, they may revise the earthquake’s reported magnitude. Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Aftershocks detected

Subsequent quakes have been reported in the same area. Such temblors are typically aftershocks caused by minor adjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the initial earthquake.

Quakes and aftershocks within 100 miles

Advertisement

Aftershocks can occur days, weeks or even years after the first earthquake. These events can be of equal or larger magnitude to the initial earthquake, and they can continue to affect already damaged locations.

Advertisement

When quakes and aftershocks occurred

 All times are Pacific time. The New York Times

Advertisement

Sources: United States Geological Survey (epicenter, aftershocks, shake intensity); LandScan via Oak Ridge National Laboratory (population density) | Notes: Shaking categories are based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. When aftershock data is available, the corresponding maps and charts include earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake. All times above are Pacific time. Shake data is as of Wednesday, June 3 at 6:03 a.m. Pacific time. Aftershocks data is as of Wednesday, June 3 at 8:01 a.m. Pacific time.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

News

California’s primary for governor is undecided as candidates vie to be in the top two

Published

on

California’s primary for governor is undecided as candidates vie to be in the top two

Xavier Becerra, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for California, and Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial candidate for California, shake hands while arriving for a gubernatorial debate at KRON Studios in San Francisco in April.

Jason Henry/Getty Images North America


hide caption

toggle caption

Advertisement

Jason Henry/Getty Images North America

SAN FRANCISCO — The primary election for California governor is too close to call, with vote counting continuing Wednesday. Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican business executive Steve Hilton lead the field with Democrat Tom Steyer in third place.

In California’s unusual primary system, all candidates, regardless of party, appear on a single ballot open to any registered voter. The top two candidates then move on to the general election, even if they’re from the same party. This year, voters had 60 names for governor to choose from.

Advertisement

The winner will lead the country’s most populous state, where leaders often take on national political prominence. Incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom is at his two-term limit and could be a Democratic contender for president.

Becerra, former Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden, pitched himself to voters as an experienced political leader who isn’t afraid of President Trump, but his lead caps one of the most surprising and dramatic comebacks in recent state political history. As recently as April, polls were showing Becerra — also a former member of Congress and California attorney general — languishing in single digits in a crowded field.

In his remarks at his watch party in Los Angeles, Becerra noted his underdog status.

“Here in Hollywood’s hometown, we love a good underdog success story,” he said, drawing parallels between his campaign and his immigrant parents’ success story in California. “Guess what? The underdog stayed in the fight. Like my parents, I never gave up. Never stopped putting one foot in front of the other. Never stopped believing in the beacon-like goodness of California. And thankfully, neither did you.”

Hilton is a former Fox News commentator who also served as a political adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron. He was endorsed by President Trump in April, helping him to pull ahead of Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the other major Republican in the race. Hilton has campaigned on the idea that California needs change after 16 years under total Democratic control.

Advertisement

The race is narrowing down after a tumultuous campaign

At his watch party in Huntington Beach, the British-born candidate — who became an American citizen five years ago — said it was the “honor of his lifetime” to receive over 1 million votes so far.

“Change is coming to California and it’s long overdue,” Hilton said. “We’re not there yet, but it’s looking good. It looks very much as if Californians really will have the chance to vote for change in November and take our state in a new direction.”

Democratic billionaire activist Steyer spent more than $213 million of his own money to boost his candidacy and push a progressive, populist message. While he was trailing Becerra and Hilton on Tuesday night, he said at his watch party in San Francisco that he remains confident he can close the gap in the days ahead.

“Together, we’ve scared the hell out of the corporate interests used to getting their way,” Steyer said. “It might take some time to figure out where this is going. We’re going to wait until every ballot is counted. We’re gonna give democracy a time to work. And we know we finished really strong.”

The early results are not certain to hold, in part because of unusual voting patterns in this primary election: Ballot-tracking data heading into Tuesday evening showed that Republicans were more likely to vote early by mail, while Democratic voters in this deep-blue state held onto their mail-in ballots or chose to vote in person. That’s the reverse of recent elections, which saw more Democrats voting by mail and Republicans tending to vote in person on Election Day.

Advertisement

The uncertainty on election night capped a race that remained crowded and unsettled to the end. To some extent, the race was defined by who wasn’t running.

Some of the state’s most high-profile Democrats — former Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and California Attorney General Rob Bonta — all passed on a potential bid to succeed Newsom.

The race was disrupted in April when then-U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell’s campaign for governor imploded amid allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Swalwell resigned from Congress shortly after the accusations surfaced and has denied assault allegations.

Swalwell had been gaining in polls and racking up high-profile endorsements, and his exit seemed to primarily benefit Becerra, who had been stuck in single digits in many polls. Ultimately, it quieted fears among Democrats who worried that the messy Democratic field could result in Bianco and Hilton winning the top spots in the June primary.

Marisa Lagos covers California politics at KQED and co-hosts the Political Breakdown show and podcast.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Supreme Court reinstates Republican-favored Alabama congressional districts

Published

on

Supreme Court reinstates Republican-favored Alabama congressional districts

The U.S. Supreme Court

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images


hide caption

toggle caption

Advertisement

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for Alabama to use a congressional district map favored by Republicans.

The court, in an unsigned order, overturned a three-judge district court panel that found that the map is “tainted by intentional race-based discrimination.” The court’s three liberals publicly dissented.

The ruling means that Alabama’s 2026 midterm elections will feature six Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic-leaning one, as opposed to a map with only five safe Republican seats. Democrat Shomari Figures, who represents Alabama’s Second District, will likely lose his seat as a result of the high court’s ruling.

Advertisement

The story of Alabama’s congressional map is long and tortured. It began in 2021, when the state implemented a new map to account for population changes in the census. The map featured only one majority-black district out of seven, even though the state is more than one-quarter Black.

Voters immediately sued, claiming the map illegally diluted minority votes in violation of the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution. Lower court judges agreed, ruling that the state must draw a map with two districts where Black voters have a realistic chance of electing their candidate of choice. The Supreme Court more than once has ordered Alabama to draw a compliant map.

But the state has refused and instead continued to litigate the case. On Tuesday, that tactic paid off.

What changed? In April, the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority all but gutted what remains of the Voting Rights Act, ruling that states cannot purposefully draw districts that are majority-minority.

Alabama then asked the high court to reinstate the state’s old map, under the theory that this new ruling meant that it was permissible to use a map with only one majority-Black district. In an unsigned, unexplained order in May, the high court essentially reversed its previous opinions, and allowed Alabama to use the old map for the upcoming midterm elections.

Advertisement

This set off a flurry of activity in Alabama. By the time the Supreme Court issued its May order, absentee balloting had already begun, using the court-drawn map. So Republican Governor Kay Ivey cancelled elections and scheduled a special primary for August for the affected congressional races.

The case, however, was not over.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court had ordered a lower court panel to continue evaluating Alabama’s map in light of its recent Voting Rights Act decision. And just 15 days after that order, the panel, composed of three Republican judges—two of them Trump appointees—concluded unanimously that even under the Supreme Court’s new standards, the plan for a single black district was “intentionally discriminatory.”

So, once again, Alabama returned to the Supreme Court, arguing that the map was partisan, not racially discriminatory. In short, that the Republican legislature simply drew the map to elect more Republicans. And that under the Supreme Court’s new interpretation of the Voting Rights Act, the GOP map should be allowed to stand.

The court’s conservative agreed, writing that the lower court “did not heed the presumption of legislative good faith.”

Advertisement

The court’s three liberals publicly dissented, castigating the conservative majority for failing to abide by its 2006 decision in the case of Purcell v. Gonzalez. That decision declared that courts should not change election rules too close to an election.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissent, said the court “debases the democratic process” and “corrodes the rule of law by rewarding Alabama’s gamesmanship and outright defiance of court orders.”

Tuesday’s decision is the latest in a series of Supreme Court rulings that could well reshape the 2026 midterm elections, making it much harder for Democrats to prevail.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending