Hundreds of thousands without power in the U.S. after a powerful winter storm

"Bitter cold is gripping much of the country after a massive winter storm swept across the U.S., dumping ice, sleet and snow from New Mexico to the eastern seaboard. At least 18 deaths are attributed to the weather, according to The Associated Press. Nearly half the nation's population was impacted by the winter freeze, which knocked out power, made road conditions hazardous, and disrupted some of the nation's busiest airports."

"Heavy snow is still falling in the northeast, and the National Weather Service (NWS) warns the frigid temperatures will persist over the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. this week. "Numerous record lows are forecast," according to the NWS forecast. "Sub-zero lows are expected nearly every morning from the Northern Plains through the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast." Ice-covered trees and power lines knocked out power for more than a million customers across the South at the peak of the storm. By mid-morning Monday more than 800,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity, according to PowerOutage.com."

A massive winter storm brought ice, sleet and snow from New Mexico to the eastern seaboard, leaving at least 18 people dead and impacting nearly half the U.S. population. The storm knocked out power for over a million customers at its peak and left more than 800,000 homes and businesses without electricity by mid-morning Monday. Hazardous road conditions and disruptions at major airports followed. The National Weather Service warned of persistent frigid temperatures and numerous record lows, with sub-zero mornings from the Northern Plains through the Ohio Valley into the Northeast. Restoration work is hindered by ice-laden trees repeatedly damaging power lines.

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