NEW YORK Jan 27 (ABC) :Millions of Americans were digging out on Monday after a massive winter storm battered large parts of the United States, leaving at least 23 people dead, knocking out power and crippling transport networks, while dangerously cold temperatures were expected to persist for days.
An intense Arctic air mass continued to grip the country from New Mexico to Maine, threatening to slow recovery efforts. The storm brought heavy snow, strong winds, freezing rain and sleet, creating hazardous conditions across much of the northern half of the US.
The National Weather Service warned that temperatures in many regions would remain continuously below freezing through February 1. It also cautioned that record-low temperatures across the South were especially dangerous, as many households were still without electricity following the weekend storm.
While skies began to clear in some areas, snowfall continued in parts of the Northeast. Sections of Connecticut recorded more than 22 inches of snow, while Boston received over 16 inches.
Authorities linked at least 23 deaths to the storm, based on state and local reports. Causes included hypothermia and accidents involving traffic, sledding, all-terrain vehicles and snowplows. In New York City, eight additional deaths were reported amid plunging temperatures, with investigations underway to determine whether they were storm-related.
Power restoration efforts were ongoing, but more than 550,000 customers across the South were still without electricity by Monday evening, according to Poweroutage.com. Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana — states less accustomed to severe winter weather — were among the hardest hit.
The National Weather Service said nearly 190 million people were under some form of extreme cold alert. In the Great Lakes region, temperatures dropped sharply, with parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin recording lows of -23°F (-30.6°C), and wind chills increasing the risk of frostbite within minutes.
Nearly half of the contiguous US states received at least a foot of snow over the weekend. New Mexico’s Bonito Lake reported the highest total, with 31 inches.
Local authorities warned of ongoing dangers. In Nashville, Mayor Freddie O’Connell said ice-laden trees continued to fall, sometimes disrupting power that had already been restored. Cities across the country opened emergency warming shelters as officials urged residents to limit travel.
Meteorologists said recovery was particularly challenging because the storm affected such a wide area, limiting the ability of better-prepared northern states to assist southern regions. Forecasters also noted that the storm was linked to a disrupted polar vortex, which allowed Arctic air to surge southward across North America.
Meanwhile, Texas remained under a severe cold wave, with icy roads and freezing temperatures disrupting daily life in cities including Dallas, Austin and Houston. Officials warned of renewed risks later in the week, including freezing rain and ice accumulation, and advised residents to avoid non-essential travel.
With schools closed in several areas and weather conditions expected to remain unstable, authorities across the US urged continued caution as the country grapples with the aftermath of one of the season’s most widespread winter storms.