Blizzard Slams Carolinas as Power Outages Persist Elsewhere

Frigid temperatures and heavy snow disrupt travel and daily life across the region.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 9:31pm

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A powerful 'bomb cyclone' brought blizzard conditions to parts of the Carolinas on Saturday, dumping over a foot of snow in some areas and causing widespread power outages that have lasted for days in Tennessee and Mississippi after a previous ice storm. Hundreds of flights were canceled, roads were treacherous, and thousands remained without electricity as the dangerous cold weather persisted across the East Coast.

Why it matters

The back-to-back winter storms have highlighted the vulnerability of power grids and infrastructure in the region, as well as the challenges communities face in responding to extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent due to climate change. The prolonged power outages have also put many residents at risk, especially the homeless and elderly.

The details

The blizzard conditions resulted in hundreds of traffic accidents in North Carolina, though no fatalities were reported. Many people stayed home to avoid the dangerous travel conditions, while others went out sledding with their families. Airports in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Raleigh saw hundreds of flight cancellations and delays. In areas unaccustomed to heavy snow, like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the city had to work with county and state officials to clear the roads, as they lacked their own snow removal equipment.

  • The storm hit the Carolinas on Saturday, February 1, 2026.
  • Subfreezing weather and heavy snow were forecast to continue into Sunday, February 2, 2026.

The players

Bob Oravec

Lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.

Mark Kruea

Mayor of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Bill Lee

Governor of Tennessee.

Dolla Johnson

A 65-year-old homeless person who sought shelter at a warming center in Georgia.

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What they’re saying

“We're not gonna drive anywhere. It's thick enough that I would not feel comfortable driving with our family.”

— Lee Harrison, Insurance agent

“This is a complete, you know, aberration for us to have this kind of snow, where it's coming down consistently for hours on end.”

— Cindy Symonds, Teacher

“If I hadn't have been here, I would be sleeping outside. There's nowhere else to go. The bridges are not safe. Everything's freezing over.”

— Dolla Johnson

What’s next

Officials in North Carolina's Outer Banks have closed a nearly 13-mile stretch of a main road due to deteriorating conditions and poor visibility, warning of likely 'ocean overwash' and urging people to stay home.

The takeaway

The back-to-back winter storms have exposed the need for better preparation and resilience in communities across the Carolinas and the broader East Coast, as extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change. Improving power grid infrastructure, enhancing emergency response capabilities, and providing support for vulnerable populations will be crucial in mitigating the impacts of these types of storms in the future.