Severe US Winter Storm Risks Power Outages and Disrupted Travel Plans
A vast swath of the US is currently under alert for winter-storm conditions, stretching from the Southern Rockies to the Mid-Atlantic and New England. This storm is expected to last several days, potentially disrupting travel and leading to power outages.
By Friday evening, a combination of freezing rain and snow is expected to hit Texas. This weather pattern raises the risk of widespread power outages due to ice accumulation, especially as electricity demand surges to keep homes warm. As the storm progresses through the weekend, it will move toward the Northeast, leaving behind a dangerous glaze of ice and sleet.
According to Brian Hurley, a meteorologist for the Weather Prediction Center, at least 170 million people are in areas likely to be affected. “It’s going to create a lot of inconvenience and hazard,” he stated.
In anticipation of these extreme conditions, prices for electricity and natural gas—the primary fuel for power plants and home heating—have already begun to rise. The potential for local disasters looms as heavy ice accumulations increase the likelihood of prolonged power outages, which could leave many homes without heat.
Heavy snowfall is also likely in New York City early Sunday, with predictions of over 14 inches (36 centimeters) across the metro area before the storm departs late Monday. Travel conditions are expected to be hazardous, with visibility dropping below a quarter of a mile due to falling or blowing snow and slick roads, particularly on bridges and overpasses.
In Texas, electricity prices for the weekend and Monday have surged, trading as high as approximately $1,000 per megawatt-hour during off-peak hours. This spike is attributed to concerns over tight power supplies, especially during the early morning hours when temperatures will plummet.
The benchmark Mid-Atlantic power price on the expansive 13-state Eastern grid managed by PJM Interconnection LLC reached $450. PJM, which serves nearly a fifth of Americans, has indicated that prices could exceed $1,000 amid rising fuel costs.
Additionally, prices for spot gas at the Waha hub in West Texas skyrocketed to $12 per million British thermal units for the weekend, a significant increase from less than $1 earlier in the week, as trading data revealed.
Photo: A customer walks past empty shelves at Walmart in Little Rock, Arkansas on Jan 23. Photographer: Will Newton/Getty Images
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
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A vast swath of the US is currently under alert for winter-storm conditions, stretching from the Southern Rockies to the Mid-Atlantic and New England. This storm is expected to last several days, potentially disrupting travel and leading to power outages.
By Friday evening, a combination of freezing rain and snow is expected to hit Texas. This weather pattern raises the risk of widespread power outages due to ice accumulation, especially as electricity demand surges to keep homes warm. As the storm progresses through the weekend, it will move toward the Northeast, leaving behind a dangerous glaze of ice and sleet.
According to Brian Hurley, a meteorologist for the Weather Prediction Center, at least 170 million people are in areas likely to be affected. “It’s going to create a lot of inconvenience and hazard,” he stated.
In anticipation of these extreme conditions, prices for electricity and natural gas—the primary fuel for power plants and home heating—have already begun to rise. The potential for local disasters looms as heavy ice accumulations increase the likelihood of prolonged power outages, which could leave many homes without heat.
Heavy snowfall is also likely in New York City early Sunday, with predictions of over 14 inches (36 centimeters) across the metro area before the storm departs late Monday. Travel conditions are expected to be hazardous, with visibility dropping below a quarter of a mile due to falling or blowing snow and slick roads, particularly on bridges and overpasses.
In Texas, electricity prices for the weekend and Monday have surged, trading as high as approximately $1,000 per megawatt-hour during off-peak hours. This spike is attributed to concerns over tight power supplies, especially during the early morning hours when temperatures will plummet.
The benchmark Mid-Atlantic power price on the expansive 13-state Eastern grid managed by PJM Interconnection LLC reached $450. PJM, which serves nearly a fifth of Americans, has indicated that prices could exceed $1,000 amid rising fuel costs.
Additionally, prices for spot gas at the Waha hub in West Texas skyrocketed to $12 per million British thermal units for the weekend, a significant increase from less than $1 earlier in the week, as trading data revealed.
Photo: A customer walks past empty shelves at Walmart in Little Rock, Arkansas on Jan 23. Photographer: Will Newton/Getty Images
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
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