Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Severe Winter Storm Threatens Midwest: Snow, Ice, Power Outages

1/3/2025

26 2

Summary

Story summary

A powerful winter storm is poised to unleash its fury across the Midwest, delivering treacherous snow and ice from the West Coast to the heart of the U.S. With accumulations potentially surpassing 4 inches, the threat of widespread power outages looms large. Brace for perilous travel conditions from Sunday into Monday as the storm takes hold.

History

Historical Context

The upcoming winter storm across the Midwest echoes the devastating impacts of the February 2021 winter storm, which caused widespread power outages and significant damage, particularly in Texas. That storm, attributed to a polar vortex, resulted in over $26 billion in damages and highlighted vulnerabilities in infrastructure during extreme weather, a trend observed in multiple severe winter events over the past decades.

1 of 2

Story summary

A powerful winter storm is poised to unleash its fury across the Midwest, delivering treacherous snow and ice from the West Coast to the heart of the U.S. With accumulations potentially surpassing 4 inches, the threat of widespread power outages looms large. Brace for perilous travel conditions from Sunday into Monday as the storm takes hold.

1 / 2