Bomb Cyclone Leaves 150 Million Under Cold Advisories, Record Snow and Ongoing Outages
Updated (2 articles)
Cold Advisories Cover 150 Million Across the Eastern U.S. On Sunday, about 150 million people from the Gulf Coast to New England were under cold‑weather advisories or extreme‑cold warnings, with wind chills near zero in the South and single‑digit temperatures in South Florida—the coldest air mass there since December 1989 [1][2]. Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Peter Mullinax highlighted the unprecedented chill, noting that the advisories are expected to persist into Monday morning. State officials in Mississippi described the event as the worst winter storm since 1994.
Bomb Cyclone Produces Near‑Foot Snowfall in Charlotte and 18‑Inch Accumulations Elsewhere The rapidly intensifying system dumped almost a foot of snow in Charlotte and up to 18 inches in James City, ranking among the top‑five snow events on record for those locations [1][2]. Similar totals of 17‑18 inches fell in Swansboro and nearby coastal towns. The heavy snow contributed to hazardous travel conditions and widespread flight cancellations.
Tens of Thousands Remain Without Power in Tennessee and Mississippi More than 81,000 customers in Tennessee and Mississippi were still without electricity by Sunday evening, according to poweroutage.us [1][2]. Nashville Electric Service projected 90 % restoration by Tuesday and 99 % by the following Sunday, while Governor Bill Lee pressed utility leaders for accelerated repairs. The outages follow an earlier ice storm that knocked out power across the region.
Deaths Top 110 as Traffic Collisions and Flight Cancellations Mount Since late January, at least 110 fatalities have been linked to the wintry weather, including exposure, traffic crashes, and other storm‑related causes [1][2]. North Carolina reported over 1,000 traffic collisions and two road deaths, and Governor Josh Stein warned of continued danger on highways. FlightAware recorded more than 2,800 cancellations on Saturday and an additional 1,700 on Sunday, with over 800 of Sunday’s cancellations at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Florida Sees Snow Flurries, Frozen Fruit and Stunned Iguanas Snow flurries fell in the Tampa‑St. Petersburg area while temperatures dropped into the 20s in the Panhandle and the 30s in South Florida [1][2]. The cold stunned large numbers of iguanas, leaving many prostrate and at risk of death after more than a day of exposure. Ice formed on strawberries and oranges, prompting some farmers to spray water on trees and bushes to protect the crops.
Sources
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1.
AP: 150 Million U.S. Residents Under Cold‑Weather Advisories as Bomb Cyclone Aftermath Lingers: Details the breadth of cold advisories, record snowfall in North Carolina, power outages affecting over 81 000 customers, a death toll exceeding 110, and unusual Florida impacts such as snow and frozen iguanas .
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2.
WBNS: Bomb Cyclone Sparks Record Snow, Power Outages and Even Frozen Iguanas Across the U.S.: Emphasizes the same core data—150 million under advisories, near‑foot snowfall, lingering outages for tens of thousands, over 110 deaths, extensive flight cancellations, and Florida’s snow flurries and stunned iguanas—while adding a note on a collapsed beachfront house on Cape Hatteras .
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Timeline
Late Jan 2026 – A wintry storm sweeps the eastern United States, causing extreme‑cold exposure, traffic crashes and other storm‑related incidents that later total at least 110 deaths, the deadliest cold snap since the 1994 Mississippi winter storm [1][2].
Jan 31, 2026 – A rapidly intensifying bomb cyclone forms over the Atlantic and slams the Carolinas, dumping nearly a foot of snow in Charlotte and up to 18 inches in James City, ranking among the top‑five snow events on record for those cities [1][2].
Feb 1, 2026 – The National Weather Service issues cold‑weather advisories and extreme‑cold warnings for roughly 150 million people from the Gulf Coast to New England, with wind chills near zero in the South and South Florida experiencing its coldest air mass since Dec 1989 [1][2].
Feb 1, 2026 – Power outages affect more than 81,000 customers in Tennessee and Mississippi; Nashville Electric Service projects 90 % restoration by Tuesday and 99 % by the following Sunday, while Governor Bill Lee voices strong concerns to utility leaders over the unprecedented impact [1][2].
Feb 1, 2026 – Flight cancellations exceed 4,600 nationwide, including over 2,800 on Saturday and 1,700 on Sunday, with Charlotte Douglas International Airport losing more than 800 flights as airlines respond to hazardous travel conditions [1][2].
Feb 1, 2026 – Interstate 85 near Charlotte experiences a multi‑truck crash that creates an hours‑long backup; North Carolina Highway Patrol records over 1,000 traffic collisions and two road deaths, prompting Governor Josh Stein to call the situation “severe” [1][2].
Feb 1, 2026 – Snow flurries dust the Tampa‑St. Petersburg area, temperatures plunge into the 20s in the Panhandle and 30s in South Florida, and iguanas become cold‑stunned, while farmers spray water on strawberries and oranges to prevent ice damage [1][2].
Feb 2, 2026 – Forecasts indicate that cold‑weather advisories will persist into Monday morning, keeping wind chills near zero and maintaining heightened risk for additional power outages and travel disruptions across the region [1].
External resources (1 links)
- https://poweroutage.us/ (cited 2 times)