Live updates: Historic winter storm slams 40 states, unleashing crippling ice, heavy snow
FOX Weather is tracking the massive winter storm blasting America with extreme winter weather and life-threatening cold.
Snow, freezing rain, and ice are slicing across the eastern half of the United States.
A powerful winter storm is making its 2,300+ mile journey across America right now. Nearly 200 million people are under some type of winter weather alert, breaking the record for the most number of U.S. counties simultaneously under a Winter Storm Warning. Stay here throughout the day for the most comprehensive and up-to-the-minute weather news as the storm moves into the Northeast.
Latest power outage tracker showing outages across the United States. (PowerOutage.com)
America's monster winter storm has cut power to more than 548,000 energy customers. The latest data from PowerOutage.com shows outages surging across Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana where a crippling ice storm is underway.
Utility crews are responding to major outages throughout the South. But conditions are proving to be too dangerous in some areas with some companies ceasing repair operations until the storm ends.
96% of LaGuardia Airport's 951 scheduled flights have been disrupted today.
If you're trying to fly in or out of New York's LaGuardia Airport, chances are it's not going well. Airlines have canceled 888 flights in and out of LGA so far today, which is 93% of the entire day's schedule.
Latest power outage tracker showing current outages nationwide. (PowerOutage.com)
Nearly half a million energy customers are without power right now - a number that continues to skyrocket as dangerous ice coats the South.
Latest power outage tracker showing significant outages across the South. (PowerOutage.com)
Power outages continue to skyrocket as the massive winter storm barrels through the nation. Data from PowerOutage.com shows more than 400,000 energy customers are now without power, particularly across East Texas into Arkansas and Mississippi where freezing rain continues to ice things over.
Radar image showing threat for heavy snow increasing in the Northeast.
Heavy snow, with rates of around 1 inch per hour, is expected to develop from parts of the upper Ohio Valley eastward to the Mid-Atlantic this morning. Heavy snow is expected from Pennsylvania and northern Virginia eastward to New Jersey and far southeastern New York. In northern Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, a changeover to freezing rain is expected by late morning.
Winter weather report showing .47" of ice so far in Nashville, Tennessee.
A crippling ice storm is slamming the South this morning and things will only worsen through the day. Nashville, Tennessee just reported .47" of ice as freezing rain continues to hammer Tennessee. That ice is weighing down trees and power lines, and power outages continue to climb across the state.
Winter weather report showing .20" of ice in Holly Springs, Georgia.
Conditions are deteriorating rapidly across North Georgia as freezing rain continues to fall. A new report from Holly Springs, GA shows nearly a quarter of an inch of ice has built up so far.
FlightAware MiseryMap showing total flight disruptions across the U.S. on Sunday morning.
America's historic winter storm has now forced airlines to cancel more than 16,000 U.S. flights. That number includes canceled flights from Friday to Monday. Another 9,800 flights have been delayed. That brings the total number of flight disruptions to 26,000 across the 4-day period. Data from FlightAware shows 94% of flights in and out of LaGuardia Airport in New York have been delayed or canceled on Sunday.
Latest power outage tracker showing significant outages across the South. (PowerOutage.com)
Thousands of people are waking up this morning without power across the South. Data from PowerOutage.com shows more than 300,000 energy customers are now without power, particularly across East Texas into Arkansas and Mississippi where freezing rain continues to ice things over.
Kansas City International Airport, the official weather observation site for Kansas City, MO, broke a long-standing daily snow record on Saturday.
The National Weather Service reports 5.2" of snow fell at KCI, breaking the old record of 2.2" set in 1956.
Probability of snow rates exceeding 1 inch per hour in the Northeast around midday Sunday.
New York and Philadelphia are bracing for the most snow they've seen in years and it just might come in a hurry. The FOX Forecast Center says extreme "frontogenesis" could create whiteout conditions along Interstate 95 later today.
Frontogenesis is the process by which warm, moist air slams into cold air arctic, resulting in rising air, fueling intense snow rates. This area of frontogensis is expected to slide north along I-95 on Sunday, triggering extreme snow rates of 2-3 inches per hour along the I-95 corridor. Winter weather experts call it a "snow thump" because it hits quick and lays down significant snow in just an hour or two.
It's this "thump" of snow that is expected to deliver higher totals around midday. As the day goes on and that warmer air continues to surge north, the snow may mix with sleet as warmer air moves in aloft, partially melting snowflakes as they fall.
Latest power outage tracker showing widespread power outages in the South. (PowerOutage.com)
The number of people without electricity continues to climb this morning. Data from PowerOutage.com shows nearly 300,000 energy customers are without power across the South. The map shows where the worst freezing rain and ice have occurred so far - from East Texas across Louisiana and into Mississippi.
Radar image showing snow spreading into New York's tri-state area.
Flakes are flying in New York right now, the first of what will be many that fall today. Light snow is now being reported at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark International Airport, and The Battery in Lower Manhattan.
Latest top snow totals so far from Illinois.
Radar showing snow moving into the Northeast this morning.
Right on schedule, snow is now arriving in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Flakes are flying from Washington to Philadelphia now and should arrive in New York in the next hour or two. Conditions are expected to rapidly deteriorate as the snow adds up.
You can go back and see how this winter storm has evolved with our live coverage from Saturday.
Live Coverage begins here