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Published Jan 26, 2026, 1:18 PM EST
Leo is a professional writer, having worked in the journalistic field for many years. In that time, he has covered breaking political news, in-depth analyses of true crime, and a few more lighthearted topics such as entertainment, culture, and travel. His writing can be found at various outlets, including Rare, Wide Open Country, and PC Invasion.
Leo uses his writing not only as a creative outlet but also to fund his lifestyle of travel and adventure. For four years, he has been hopping from country to country, meeting new people, eating new foods, and struggling to learn new languages.
The East Coast of the U.S. is being battered by a winter storm that has already claimed 12 lives and left more than a million homes and businesses without power, according to PowerOutage.us. As conditions continue to worsen, concern over the safety of the vulnerable grows.
The storm is unusually widespread, covering the country from New Mexico, Texas, all the way up to New England. The size and severity of the storm have put almost unprecedented pressure on power infrastructure and snow-clearing services. As a result, many systems are failing, leaving homes and businesses in the dark and without heating or light.
Transport systems have also been affected by the winter storm. Road clearing services are working through the clock to keep roads open. Airports are also feeling the effects, with more than 10,000 flights canceled on Sunday and another 3,800 canceled on Monday. The number is expected to rise as the storm persists through the week.
It has been reported that more than 10 people have died due to the intense cold and stormy weather conditions. Because of the lack of power in more than a million homes, people are freezing, unable to warm themselves in sub-zero temperatures. Mayor Zohran Mamdani reported that 5 people had been found frozen to death in their homes.
Weather services have reported that the temperature across the East Coast will remain below freezing for the rest of the week. However, they predict that by the end of Monday, the snowfall will be light. This will give the various services a chance to clear snow and perform necessary wellness checks on the vulnerable.
Falling trees and overloaded power lines have been the main reasons for power outages. It will take some time for the repair teams to get out to the affected locations. Despite the snow letting up as the week goes on, the freezing temperatures will mean that ice and sleet will take a long time to melt, resulting in dangerous conditions.
However, it isn't all doom and gloom. Across the East Coast, thousands of kids have been told that they can stay home rather than risk the journey through the snow. For some, this will mean a good old-fashioned snow day, but the students of New York City aren't quite so lucky. They have switched to online classes as of 26 January.
Despite the snowfall slowing, the country will still be subject to below-freezing conditions for a week or more. This will prevent the ice and snow from melting, but should allow local emergency services to begin to restore power to the various affected areas.
English (US) ·