Tens of Thousands Remain Without Power as Southeast Braces for Winter Storm

Subfreezing temperatures and heavy snowfall expected to hit Carolinas, Virginia, and Northeast Georgia this weekend.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 10:47am

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Tens of thousands of people in the Southeast have entered their sixth day without electricity as the region prepares for a significant winter storm that could bring heavy snowfall, potentially over a foot in parts of North Carolina. The prolonged power outages have raised concerns about the risk of hypothermia, especially for vulnerable populations, as temperatures are expected to plummet into the teens. Forecasters warn the subfreezing weather will persist into February, and blizzard conditions are possible on Saturday night and early Sunday before the storm moves out to sea.

Why it matters

The extended power outages in Mississippi and Tennessee have left many residents trapped at home in dangerously cold temperatures, heightening the risk of hypothermia and other cold-related health issues, especially for the elderly, infants, and those with underlying conditions. The impending winter storm could exacerbate the situation and cause further disruptions, underscoring the need for effective emergency response and preparation in the face of extreme weather events.

The details

More than 230,000 homes and businesses were without electricity on Friday morning, with the majority of the outages in Mississippi and Tennessee. The National Weather Service has warned of a high chance of heavy snow, potentially up to a foot, in the Carolinas, Virginia, and northeast Georgia this weekend. Intense winds and moderate to heavy snow could lead to blizzard conditions before the storm moves out on Sunday. Experts say the prolonged exposure to subfreezing temperatures increases the risk of hypothermia, with symptoms ranging from exhaustion to slurred speech and memory loss, even for generally healthy individuals.

  • Tens of thousands of people have entered their sixth day without power on Friday.
  • The winter storm is expected to hit the region on Saturday night and early Sunday.

The players

Tate Reeves

The governor of Mississippi, who said the state is experiencing its worst winter storm since 1994.

Bill Lee

The governor of Tennessee, who said crews have distributed more than 600 units of warming supplies and over 2,200 gallons of gas and diesel.

Dr. Hans House

A professor of emergency medicine at the University of Iowa, who warned that the longer people are exposed to the cold, the worse the effects can be.

Dr. Zheng Ben Ma

The medical director of the University of Washington Medical Center's northwest emergency department, who explained that even healthy individuals could start experiencing hypothermia symptoms after several days of exposure to the cold.

Dr. Abhi Mehrotra

An emergency medicine physician with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who stressed the importance of ensuring indoor heat sources are not emitting carbon monoxide.

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What they’re saying

“The longer you're exposed to the cold, the worse it is. The body can handle cold temperatures briefly very well, but the prolonged exposure is a problem.”

— Dr. Hans House, Professor of emergency medicine, University of Iowa

“Once you get into days six, seven, upwards of 10, then even a healthy, resilient person will be more predisposed to experiencing some of those deleterious effects of the cold temperature.”

— Dr. Zheng Ben Ma, Medical director, University of Washington Medical Center's northwest emergency department

“It's important to make sure heat sources used indoors, including generators, are not emitting carbon monoxide, which could be deadly.”

— Dr. Abhi Mehrotra, Emergency medicine physician, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What’s next

Forecasters say the subfreezing weather will persist in the eastern U.S. into February, and there's a high chance of heavy snow in the Carolinas, Virginia, and northeast Georgia this weekend, possibly up to a foot in parts of North Carolina. Snow is also possible along the East Coast from Maryland to Maine.

The takeaway

The prolonged power outages and impending winter storm in the Southeast underscore the need for robust emergency preparedness and response measures to protect vulnerable populations from the dangers of extreme cold, including the risks of hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning. As climate change continues to drive more frequent and severe weather events, communities must be equipped to effectively mitigate the impacts and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents.