January 23, 2026, 10:55January 23, 2026, 10:55
A dozen states have declared a state of emergency out of fear of the effects of what is believed to be one of the worst winter storms in recent years in the United States. The media spoke of a “monster storm”.
A sign on a highway in Texas warns of the coming storm.Image: keystone
The measure applies in whole or in part to Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri, reported the US broadcasters CNN and ABC.
Accompanied by heavy snowfall and icy winds, the approaching storm will spread over a distance of around 3,000 kilometers from New Mexico in the southwest to Maine in the northeast over the weekend, the weather service warned.
Fear of power outages
Airlines have already canceled hundreds of connections as a precaution, according to media reports. Passengers are offered the opportunity to rebook free of charge. To be on the safe side, numerous schools also canceled classes on Friday.
There are also fears that massive power outages will occur, for example due to trees snapping or because the above-ground lines could break due to the weight of lightning ice.
Weather warnings or special information apply to around 160 million residents. The authorities called on people not to leave their homes and to leave their cars behind. New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned that the expected cold could be “absolutely deadly.” In parts of Minnesota and North Dakota, temperatures could fall to minus 45 degrees Celsius (minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the weather service. (sda/dpa)
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