Brutal Winter Storm Paralyzes Travel Across US

ABC News reports on the severe snowfall, icy conditions, and widespread power outages impacting millions

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:37am

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A vast, majestic landscape painting in muted tones of blue, white, and grey, with heavy snowfall and icy winds obscuring any visible structures or vehicles, conveying the overwhelming scale and sublime power of the winter storm.The colossal winter storm's sweeping, atmospheric power overwhelms the landscape, underscoring the need for better preparedness in the face of intensifying extreme weather.Boston Today

A massive winter storm has blanketed much of the United States, causing widespread travel disruptions, power outages, and dangerous conditions. ABC News anchor Linsey Davis and correspondent Janai Norman provided urgent updates on the storm's severity, which has affected over 200 million Americans from the Southwest to the Northeast. The storm has prompted states of emergency declarations, flight cancellations, highway closures, and power failures across the country.

Why it matters

This winter storm is an extreme weather event that highlights the need for better preparedness and resilience in the face of increasingly severe and unpredictable climate patterns. The extensive reach and intensity of the storm have overwhelmed infrastructure and emergency response systems, raising questions about how communities can better mitigate the impacts of such colossal weather events.

The details

The storm has brought heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and record-low temperatures, leading to the cancellation of over 11,000 flights on Sunday alone. Highways have become treacherous, with numerous truck crashes reported, and over 1 million residents in the southern states are without power. Janai Norman, reporting from Boston, warned that the city could receive more than 20 inches of snow, with snowfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour. The National Weather Service has predicted that the icy conditions and heavy snow will persist into Monday, with the potential for 'catastrophic ice accumulation' in some regions.

  • On Sunday, the winter storm blanketed much of the nation with sleet, snow, and freezing rain.
  • Over 11,000 flights were canceled on Sunday alone due to the storm.
  • The storm is expected to continue into Monday, with over 2,000 more flights canceled.

The players

Linsey Davis

A seasoned ABC News anchor who delivered urgent updates on the winter storm's severity, covering its broad impact across the United States.

Janai Norman

An ABC News correspondent reporting from Boston, where the city could receive more than 20 inches of snow and experience wind gusts and persistent snowfall.

Maura Healey

The Governor of Massachusetts, who advised residents to stay off the roads due to poor visibility.

Zohran Mamdani

The Mayor of New York City, who urged residents to remain indoors and expressed condolences for the five fatalities caused by exposure outside.

Allison Santorelli

A meteorologist who described the storm as highly unusual due to its extensive reach, affecting a corridor spanning from New Mexico and Texas all the way into New England.

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What they’re saying

“Nearly 200 million Americans are feeling the impact—covering a broad stretch from the Southwest to the Northeast.”

— Linsey Davis, ABC News Anchor

“Boston could receive more than 20 inches of snow and we're seeing wind gusts and persistent snowfall forecasted to continue through the following morning.”

— Janai Norman, ABC News Correspondent

“Stay off the roads due to poor visibility.”

— Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts

“Urging residents to remain indoors and expressing condolences for the five fatalities caused by exposure outside.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“The storm is highly unusual due to its extensive reach, affecting a corridor spanning from New Mexico and Texas all the way into New England—an unprecedented 2,000-mile stretch.”

— Allison Santorelli, Meteorologist

What’s next

The National Weather Service has warned that the icy conditions and heavy snow are likely to persist into Monday, with very low temperatures expected to continue affecting travel and infrastructure for days to come. Federal and state emergency management agencies are coordinating rescue efforts and distributing supplies in the affected areas.

The takeaway

This severe winter storm underscores the need for communities to be better prepared for the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events driven by climate change. Improving infrastructure resilience, emergency response capabilities, and public awareness will be crucial to mitigating the devastating impacts of such colossal weather events in the future.