The blizzard in Lowville, New York.Image: AP
January 24, 2026, 12:29 p.mJanuary 24, 2026, 12:29 p.m
Millions of Americans are bracing for one of the harshest winter storms in recent years in the United States. As ABC News reported, more than 180 million people are on alert.
At least 18 states have declared a state of emergency, including New York, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri. It was said that more than 8,000 flights were canceled for the weekend.
Lots of snow in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Image: AP Kalamazoo Gazette
“Millions of people are affected by catastrophic ice and snow conditions,” wrote CNN on Saturday night (local time). The US media published images of emptied supermarket shelves and prepared emergency shelters.
Empty shelves in a store in Decatur, Georgia. Image: keystone
“This is a dangerous combination of lots of snow and extremely low temperatures,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
Homeless people in Chicago were provided with tents and gas heaters.Image: AP
By declaring a state of emergency, US states can – if necessary – mobilize aid funds and personnel much more quickly. The weather service warned that the storm would spread over a distance of around 3,000 kilometers from New Mexico in the southwest to Maine in the northeast over the weekend. (sda/dpa)