A powerful winter storm brought heavy snowfall and extreme cold as it moved away from the Atlantic Coast on Thursday, resulting in flight disruptions, traffic congestion, and closed schools. The storm’s impact was widespread, covering storm-damaged areas in Kentucky and Tennessee with over a foot of snow in parts of Virginia and North Carolina. This system traversed the nation with a surge of Arctic air impacting central and eastern states, breaking low-temperature records in multiple locations.
Schools from Virginia to Oklahoma opted to cancel classes or switch to virtual learning due to the frigid temperatures and hazardous travel conditions. Authorities urged residents to avoid driving as numerous traffic accidents were reported. Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina saw over 150 flights canceled, with Raleigh, North Carolina, and Dallas, Texas also experiencing numerous delays and cancellations.
While snow accumulated in the Mid-Atlantic region, cold weather advisories extended across two-thirds of the country, spanning from Montana to Texas and reaching the Florida Panhandle. The National Weather Service provided the latest snowfall totals, with significant amounts in various locations such as Teton Village, Wyoming (55.5 inches), Sundell, Michigan (16 inches), and Virginia Beach, Virginia (13 inches).
Kentucky, still recovering from recent flooding and snowstorms, is beginning to see relief from the harsh conditions. Governor Andy Beshear noted the improvement, mentioning that the snow is starting to dissipate and rivers have reached their peak levels after the prior flooding. Transitioning from search-and-rescue operations to recovery efforts, the state is preparing for improving conditions as the severe cold subsides over the weekend.
Record low temperatures were observed in several states, with cities like Omaha, Lincoln, and Norfolk, Nebraska, experiencing historic lows. South Dakota saw a new record low in Edgemont at negative 38 degrees, while Columbia, Missouri, broke a previous low set in 1929. Forecasters indicated that Southern states including Texas and Oklahoma could expect record-low temperatures on Thursday and Friday.
Additionally, crews in southwest Detroit were focused on freeing vehicles immobilized due to a water main break flooding the area.
Cars were left frozen in place after floodwaters solidified due to a sudden drop in temperature from an Arctic air blast earlier this week. These vehicles became immobilized on various streets that had been inundated following a significant water main rupture on Monday, resulting in dramatic rescue operations and affecting more than 400 residences in the vicinity. Over 130 households had to be accommodated in hotels as a consequence. While authorities have refrained from specifying the cause of the rupture, they have pointed out that the incident occurred during subfreezing temperatures. Michael Muzzey, one of the local residents, found his cars and trucks sealed shut by ice, likely rendering them irreparable. “There’s several cars on this street that are pretty much out of commission,” he informed WXYZ Detroit.
In Detroit, photos depicting the aftermath of the water main break showed Rowan Street in Southwest Detroit on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. This street was located near the epicenter of the flooding caused by the water main break the previous day.
Meanwhile, freeze warnings were activated across the southern regions of the United States as Arctic air began to envelop the area with bone-chilling temperatures. The National Weather Service issued warnings for parts of Texas, northern Florida, and southeast Georgia, cautioning residents about subfreezing temperatures and wind chills in the teens that could result in the damage of plants, burst water pipes, and risk of hypothermia with extended exposure.
The warnings were in effect until Friday morning, advising people to ensure that outdoor animals have access to shelter, food, and unfrozen water. Additionally, they were advised to check on older relatives, friends, and neighbors regularly, use portable heaters correctly, avoid using generators or grills indoors, and take necessary precautions to safeguard delicate plants from the cold.
Darcie Moran of the Detroit Free Press contributed to this report, which was originally published on USA TODAY, highlighting the impact of snowfall and freezing temperatures that triggered freeze warnings and caused travel disruptions across the United States.
