Winter Storm Threatens Long Power Outages Across US East

A massive winter storm stretching over 2,300 miles is moving across the United States, from the Southern Plains to the Northeast. It brings heavy ice, freezing rain, and bitter cold that could knock out power for days in many areas. Grid operators and utility companies have called in extra crews and issued warnings for people to prepare for outages that might last up to three days or more.

Background

This storm comes at a time when the US power grid faces growing strains from extreme weather. Power outages have been getting longer nationwide. By mid-2025, the average longest outage lasted 12.8 hours, up from 8.1 hours in 2022. In the South, they averaged 18.2 hours, the longest of any region. About 45% of utility customers faced at least one outage in the first half of 2025, with nearly half tied to storms like this one.

Natural gas supplies are tight as homes and businesses turn up the heat. Demand for both gas and electricity spikes at the same time, since many power plants run on gas. Past events show the risks. In 2021, Winter Storm Uri in Texas caused deadly outages when frozen pipes cut gas flow. Upgrades followed, but this storm tests those fixes. A similar cold snap in 2022 pushed systems in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic to the brink, saved only by last-minute steps.

Electricity demand is climbing fast. It has grown by 20 gigawatts since last winter, outpacing new capacity additions. Grid groups like PJM, which serves 67 million people in the East and Mid-Atlantic, expect peak loads to hit 147 gigawatts on January 27, topping the recent record of 143 gigawatts. In Texas, ERCOT sees a peak of nearly 84 gigawatts on January 26, beating last winter's high.

Key Details

Ice is the big worry. The National Weather Service warns of significant to catastrophic buildup from the Southern Plains through the Southeast, Lower Mississippi Valley, and Tennessee Valley. A quarter-inch of ice can snap tree branches onto lines. Half an inch makes wires sag and equipment fail. Some spots could see up to an inch.

Utilities are gearing up. Duke Energy has 18,000 line and tree workers from 27 states and Canada staged at over 20 spots in its area. They focus on major transmission lines, which hold up better than local ones but still face risks. Entergy, serving three million customers in four states, says icy roads will slow repairs. They restore power section by section to avoid more damage in the cold.

Prices are soaring as a result. In PJM, wholesale electricity hit over $3,000 per megawatt-hour on Saturday, jumping from under $200 earlier. That's a huge swing. Other grids like SPP, MISO, and NYISO are forecasting record or near-record peaks too. SPP issued an advisory for high risk in its southern areas due to cold driving up demand.

Store shelves are emptying as people stock up on food and supplies. Grocery stores in places like Washington, D.C., ran out of bread and other basics. Mail delivery faces delays in over 30 states, and flights are grounded at major airports.

Utility Prep and Customer Tips

Companies like FirstEnergy have crews ready and tips for staying safe: keep extra food, water, and blankets; avoid roads if possible; and check on neighbors. In Virginia, officials urge people to stay home and prepare for extended blackouts. Utilities in the DC area have resources lined up but stress that ice could block access for days.

"These crews are being strategically placed," said Jeff Brooks, a Duke Energy spokesperson. "Several days of very cold weather is expected. This isn't just going to melt and go away quickly."

Grid operators are using emergency measures, like firing up oil plants in New England to save gas. In the Southeast, limited pipeline and storage capacity means gas prices and transport bookings are skyrocketing.

What This Means

Long outages mean real hardship, especially in the cold. People may need to fend for themselves for days without heat, lights, or refrigerators. In the South, 77% of customers lost power after recent extreme weather, with outages averaging over 95 hours in bad cases. That's nearly four days.

The storm highlights grid weak spots. Every region has issues: tight gas in the Southeast, high demand everywhere, and ice damage on top. Customers are changing habits. Two-thirds want backup power like generators or solar panels. Remote work makes even short blackouts more noticeable now.

Restoring power takes time. Icy roads delay trucks, and cold weather demands careful steps to avoid surges that could cause more failures. Peak demand could push systems to the edge, raising blackout risks if something gives way.

Businesses feel it too. Factories, stores, and offices may shut down without power. Food spoilage hits grocers and homes. In finance terms, the price spikes show market stress, with electricity costs jumping over 15 times normal in spots. That passes to bills later.

Utilities aim to restore priority lines first: hospitals, water plants, police stations. Homes come after. People should have flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food, and ways to stay warm without gas if lines go down. Charge phones early and know where warming centers are.

This event tests years of upgrades since past failures. Grids held in 2022 by slim margins. Now, with higher demand and worse weather, the margin feels thinner. Operators say they have plans, but ice and cold make everything harder.