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Power Outages Persist Amidst Ongoing Winter Weather
Episode 9326th January 2026 • EM Morning Brief • Brian Colburn
00:00:00 00:04:45

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The primary focus of this podcast episode is the extensive and debilitating winter storm that is currently affecting much of the central and eastern United States, resulting in severe weather conditions characterized by heavy snowfall, dangerous ice, and frigid temperatures. The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings spanning from the mid-south to New England, cautioning against travel in the most severely impacted areas due to hazardous conditions and low visibility. Moreover, widespread power outages have been reported, complicating recovery efforts, particularly in sub-zero temperatures. Air travel has also been significantly disrupted, with thousands of cancellations occurring since the onset of the storm. We will continue to monitor the evolving situation and provide updates regarding restoration efforts and road conditions as they develop throughout the day.

Takeaways:

  1. A substantial winter storm continues to wreak havoc across the central and eastern United States, resulting in significant snowfall, ice, and dangerously low temperatures that pose serious challenges to residents.
  2. The National Weather Service has issued widespread winter storm warnings, indicating that travel conditions may be extremely hazardous, particularly in the most severely affected regions of the country.
  3. Power outages remain a pressing concern, affecting hundreds of thousands of individuals, with restoration efforts hindered by persistently frigid temperatures.
  4. Air travel has experienced considerable disruption, with thousands of flight cancellations reported since the onset of the winter storm, leading to considerable inconvenience for travelers.
  5. Residents in numerous states have been urged to refrain from unnecessary travel due to icy conditions and ongoing winter storm warnings, prioritizing their safety and well-being.
  6. Emergency declarations have been made in various states, highlighting the seriousness of the weather impacts and the need for coordinated response efforts to assist affected communities.

[NWS New York/OKX | https://www.weather.gov/okx/]

[GEMA/HS update (Jan. 24, ongoing incident) | https://gema.georgia.gov/winter-storm-124-125]

[Axios Atlanta | https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/01/25/winter-storm-ferm-ice-power-outage-georgia]

[NWS Gray/Portland (GYX) | https://www.weather.gov/gyx/winter]

[NWS GYX Winter Storm Warning example | https://www.weather.gov/alerts?tz=America/New_York&wfo=GYX]

[NWS Baltimore/Washington (LWX) | https://www.weather.gov/lwx/weatherstory]

[NWS Boston/BOX | https://www.weather.gov/box/winter]

[MSEMA | https://www.msema.org/news/president-approves-emergency-declaration-ice-storm-damage-mississippi]

[NWS Jackson (JAN) | https://www.weather.gov/jan/]

[NWS Gray/Portland (GYX) | https://www.weather.gov/gyx/winter]

[NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly (PHI) | https://www.weather.gov/phi/]

[Office of Governor Hochul | https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-updates-new-yorkers-state-response-massive-winter-storm-impacting-state]

[NWS New York/OKX | https://www.weather.gov/okx/]

[NC Department of Public Safety/NCEM | https://www.ncdps.gov/news/press-release]

[WBTV (outage update) | https://www.wbtv.com/2026/01/26/37000-duke-energy-customers-carolinas-without-power-wake-winter-storm/]

[NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly (PHI) | https://www.weather.gov/phi/]

[NWS Boston/BOX | https://www.weather.gov/box/winter]

[Metro Nashville OEM | https://www.nashville.gov/departments/emergency-management/news/january-25th-winter-weather-evening-update]

[NWS Nashville/OHX | https://www.weather.gov/ohx/]

[Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) | https://www.tdem.texas.gov/press-release/1-25-26]

[NWS Fort Worth (FWD) | https://www.weather.gov/fwd/]

[NWS Burlington/BTV | https://www.weather.gov/btv/stormtotalsnow]

[NWS Baltimore/Washington (LWX) | https://www.weather.gov/lwx/weatherstory]

Transcripts

Speaker A:

Good morning.

Speaker A:

,:

Speaker A:

The National Weather Service maintains winter storm warnings from the mid south into New England and advises difficult to impossible travel in the hardest hit zones.

Speaker A:

Power outages remain widespread.

Speaker A:

Hundreds of thousands lost service at points over the weekend with restoration complicated by sub freezing temperatures.

Speaker A:

Air travel is heavily disrupted with several thousand cancellations since yesterday.

Speaker A:

Let's run through the states.

Speaker A:

Connecticut Snow and blowing snow continue across Connecticut under regional winter storm warnings with hazardous travel and low visibility at times.

Speaker A:

Coastal wind gusts create rough marine conditions.

Speaker A:

Georgia north and central Georgia continue recovery from significant icing.

Speaker A:

Prior state actions include a statewide emergency and state operations center activation.

Speaker A:

Officials urged residents to stay off icy roads and prepare for multi day impacts this morning.

Speaker A:

Outages trend downward but hazardous patches persist.

Speaker A:

Many metro services remain delayed or modified.

Speaker A:

Maine Heavy snow and blowing snow continue today across much of Maine under winter storm warnings from NWS Gray.

Speaker A:

Expect difficult to near impossible travel at times with additional accumulations and hazardous wind chills.

Speaker A:

Maryland the Baltimore Washington area faces very cold wind chills and lingering snow ice impacts.

Speaker A:

NWS Sterling highlights dangerous cold through the week.

Speaker A:

Massachusetts Snow totals continue to rise across southern New England with winter storm warnings in effect and snowfall reports posted by nws.

Speaker A:

Boston Norton Travel remains hazardous, especially this morning.

Speaker A:

Mississippi Remains under cold weather impacts following weekend icing.

Speaker A:

The state reports a federally approved emergency for ice storm damage.

Speaker A:

NWS Jackson maintains cold advisories and cautions on lingering slick roads.

Speaker A:

New Hampshire Snow continues across New Hampshire under NWS Grays.

Speaker A:

Winter storm warnings with poor visibility and snow covered roads.

Speaker A:

Wind chills remain dangerous.

Speaker A:

A major winter storm affects New Jersey with significant snow and mixed precipitation.

Speaker A:

NWS Mount Holly lists winter storm warnings and advisories along the I95 corridor and coast.

Speaker A:

New York State's Emergency Operations center remains activated as heavy snow spreads statewide.

Speaker A:

The Governor's Office urges residents to avoid travel and let plows and utilities work.

Speaker A:

NWS New York maintains winter storm products for the downstate region.

Speaker A:

North Carolina Officials continue storm response after weekend snow and icing.

Speaker A:

The state briefed residents on hazards and urged folks to stay home where conditions remain icy.

Speaker A:

Utility outages fluctuate.

Speaker A:

Western NC saw the highest counts while NCDOT crews work priority routes.

Speaker A:

Pennsylvania Significant snow and mixed precipitation continue today, especially along the I95 corridor in Lehigh Valley under winter storm warnings from NWS.

Speaker A:

Mount Holly.

Speaker A:

Rhode Island Southern New England remains under winter storm warnings with heavy snow bands and gusty winds.

Speaker A:

NWS Boston notes hazardous travel and marine conditions.

Speaker A:

Tennessee Metro Nashville Davidson county is under a local state of emergency after an ice storm, Downed trees and lines, widespread outages and dangerous cold persist.

Speaker A:

NWS Nashville highlights winter storm and cold products.

Speaker A:

Black ice and falling branches remain risks.

Speaker A:

Texas Continues winter response actions.

Speaker A:

The governor expanded a disaster declaration to additional counties and the state operations center remains engaged.

Speaker A:

North Texas remains under an extreme cold warning with wind chills near or below zero this morning.

Speaker A:

Vermont A winter storm warning remains in effect for all of Vermont through tonight with storm totals of 8 to 16 inches locally higher and hazardous wind chills.

Speaker A:

NWS Burlington advises that both commutes may be difficult.

Speaker A:

Virginia NWS Stirling highlights dangerously cold wind chills and lingering snow ice impacts across northern and western Virginia today.

Speaker A:

All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.

Speaker A:

We'll monitor restoration road conditions and any additional advisories throughout the day.

Speaker A:

Source links are in the show notes below.

Speaker A:

Stay safe.

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