Large winter storm sweeps throughout the U.S. : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5742x3828+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb2%2F3e%2F53e19f4e4e1cb9d05eb3408fc9a0%2F2026-01-24t182334z-549026052-rc2t7ja46ewx-rtrmadp-3-usa-weather.JPG" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5742x3828+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb2%2F3e%2F53e19f4e4e1cb9d05eb3408fc9a0%2F2026-01-24t182334z-549026052-rc2t7ja46ewx-rtrmadp-3-usa-weather.JPG" class="img" alt="Shannon White, who has been homeless for 30 years, uses a blanket to stay warm while walking to a day shelter during Winter Storm Fern in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma January 24, 2026." fetchpriority="high"/> Shannon White, who has been homeless for 30 years, makes use of a blanket to remain heat whereas strolling to a day shelter in Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma January 24, 2026. Nick Oxford/Reuters disguise caption

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Nick Oxford/Reuters An excessive winter storm is underway impacting two-thirds of the U.S.

Beginning Friday and anticipated to final via Monday, freezing rain, ice, and dangerously low temperatures will stretch from New Mexico to the Northeast.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and energy outages are of catastrophic concern particularly for the southern states.

We have a look.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5612x3741+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F75%2F1c%2F94df029844858a71e28de9cc701b%2F2026-01-24t191907z-1688185129-rc2n7jakrj9l-rtrmadp-3-usa-weather.JPG" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5612x3741+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F75%2F1c%2F94df029844858a71e28de9cc701b%2F2026-01-24t191907z-1688185129-rc2n7jakrj9l-rtrmadp-3-usa-weather.JPG" class="img" alt="A de-icing crew works during winter storm Fern on a Southwest Airlines flight at Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. January 24, 2026." loading="lazy"/> A de-icing crew works throughout the winter storm on a Southwest Airways flight at Nashville Worldwide Airport in Nashville, Tennessee. Andrew Nelles/USA At this time Community by way of REUTERS disguise caption

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Andrew Nelles/USA At this time Community by way of REUTERS <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6048x4032+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd1%2Feeab05ef4a9d8477d8f55577fe3c%2Fgettyimages-2257417749.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6048x4032+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F41%2Fd1%2Feeab05ef4a9d8477d8f55577fe3c%2Fgettyimages-2257417749.jpg" class="img" alt="A person walks in the snow on January 24, 2026 in Little Rock, Arkansas. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to nearly 200 million Americans." loading="lazy"/> An individual walks within the snow in Little Rock, Arkansas. An enormous winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to almost 200 million People. Will Newton/Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Will Newton/Getty Pictures <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2F69%2Ff74100f54b9b85ed9898aef9a873%2Fap26024447267987.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F10%2F69%2Ff74100f54b9b85ed9898aef9a873%2Fap26024447267987.jpg" class="img" alt="Ice crystals form inside a kitchen window in Lowville, New York" loading="lazy"/> Ice crystals kind inside a kitchen window in Lowville, New York. Cara Anna/AP disguise caption

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Cara Anna/AP <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2668+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2f%2F86%2F0ef260b442cf95d9c30d04b33404%2Fgettyimages-2257447383.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2668+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2f%2F86%2F0ef260b442cf95d9c30d04b33404%2Fgettyimages-2257447383.jpg" class="img" alt="Shoppers walk past nearly empty shelves at a store ahead of an anticipated winter storm in New York." loading="lazy"/> Consumers stroll previous practically empty cabinets at a retailer forward of an anticipated winter storm in New York. Michael Nagle/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Michael Nagle/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6048x4032+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fce%2F64%2Fc2ea265549248e9d94231ae7a4ca%2Fgettyimages-2257421378.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6048x4032+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fce%2F64%2Fc2ea265549248e9d94231ae7a4ca%2Fgettyimages-2257421378.jpg" class="img" alt="Cars drive in the snow on Interstate 630 in Little Rock, Arkansas. " loading="lazy"/> Automobiles drive within the snow on Interstate 630 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Will Newton/Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Will Newton/Getty Pictures <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5587x3724+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fce%2F17%2F38ea4e7e4d65a76e0ed520d95e65%2Fap26024690305531.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5587x3724+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fce%2F17%2F38ea4e7e4d65a76e0ed520d95e65%2Fap26024690305531.jpg" class="img" alt="Yana Beeker, front, Roddy Peterson, behind, sled down a hill at the state Capitol during a winter storm Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn." loading="lazy"/> Yana Beeker, entrance, Roddy Peterson, behind, sled down a hill on the state Capitol throughout a winter storm in Nashville, Tenn. George Walker IV/AP disguise caption

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George Walker IV/AP <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2c%2Fda%2Ff9c524c0459e9b3169cb76c1b66e%2Fgettyimages-2257383479.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2c%2Fda%2Ff9c524c0459e9b3169cb76c1b66e%2Fgettyimages-2257383479.jpg" class="img" alt="Snow falls during a winter storm in Kansas City, Missouri." loading="lazy"/> Snow falls throughout a winter storm in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. Clayton Steward/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Clayton Steward/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff2%2Fac%2Fec33597442ca90d3a993c3555ef8%2Fgettyimages-2257306775.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff2%2Fac%2Fec33597442ca90d3a993c3555ef8%2Fgettyimages-2257306775.jpg" class="img" alt="Workers are bundled up at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo ahead of an anticipated winter storm in Fort Worth, Texas." loading="lazy"/> Staff are bundled up on the Fort Value Inventory Present & Rodeo forward of an anticipated winter storm in Fort Value, Texas. Mark Felix/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Mark Felix/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2666+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9c%2F5f%2F33f72a524228954a5d148f6aef34%2Fgettyimages-2257289968.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2666+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9c%2F5f%2F33f72a524228954a5d148f6aef34%2Fgettyimages-2257289968.jpg" class="img" alt="Volunteers prepare cots at an inclement weather shelter ahead of a winter storm at Fair Parks Automobile Building in Dallas, Texas on Jan. 23, 2026. " loading="lazy"/> Volunteers put together cots at an inclement climate shelter forward of a winter storm at Truthful Parks Car Constructing in Dallas, Texas on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. Mark Felix/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures disguise caption

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Mark Felix/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3500x2333+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2Fc8%2F218cb2dc4ae2b512ec4692bf8eec%2Fap26023539602023.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3500x2333+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5e%2Fc8%2F218cb2dc4ae2b512ec4692bf8eec%2Fap26023539602023.jpg" class="img" alt="Ice forms along the shore of Lake Michigan on Jan. 23, 2026, in Chicago. " loading="lazy"/> Ice kinds alongside the shore of Lake Michigan on Jan. 23, 2026, in Chicago. Kiichiro Sato/AP disguise caption