Adaysseh: A powerful winter storm swept through New Mexico and Texas on Saturday, bringing snow and freezing rain, and is moving northeast, threatening tens of millions of Americans with power outages, transportation disruptions, and extreme cold. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that up to 240 million people could be affected, as at least 16 states and Washington, D.C., declared states of emergency. The National Weather Service urged residents to take the storm seriously, forecasting heavy snowfall and potentially "catastrophic" ice accumulation from New Mexico to Maine.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, nearly 4,000 flights were canceled on Saturday and about 9,000 on Sunday, according to FlightAware. The storm is expected to impact densely populated areas along the East Coast, with hazardous icy conditions likely to persist into next week. The Met Office said, "The effects of snow and freezing rain will continue into next week with repeated waves of freezing temperatures, making surfaces icy and dangerous for driving and walking on for the foreseeable future."
President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations in 12 southern and East Coast states, enabling faster deployment of federal disaster resources, and urged Americans to stay safe and warm. "We will continue to monitor and communicate with all states in the path of this storm," Trump said on Truth Social. "Stay safe and warm!"