Snow, sleet and freezing rain cause chaos across the US, with power outages and flight cancellations

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: WRAP OF EDITS RELATING TO WINTER STORM SWEEPING ACROSS THE U.S.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT IS A WRAP AND CONTAINS NO NEW MATERIAL. ORIGINAL EDIT NUMBERS ARE INCLUDED IN SHOTLIST

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: A massive winter storm swept across large parts of the United States on Sunday (January 25), bringing heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures that knocked out power to more than a million customers and grounded thousands of flights.

More than 10,800 U.S. flights were canceled on Sunday, following over 4,000 cancellations a day earlier, as the storm paralyzed eastern and southern states.

But in Washington, D.C., residents carved out a moment of joy amid the chaos.

As snow blanketed Meridian Hill Park, crowds gathered for a spontaneous snowball fight, turning a stormy day into a playful display of community spirit.

(9846-USA-WEATHER/WASHINGTON-SNOWBALL FIGHT)

WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PEOPLE THROWING SNOWBALLS

2. WOMAN THROWING SNOWBALL

3. PARTICIPANTS THROWING SNOWBALLS AT EACH OTHER

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WASHINGTON DC RESIDENT, LAUREN SCHUTLER, SAYING:

"I am enjoying it, I love how people come together when it's snowing. This is fun."

5. PEOPLE MAKING SNOW ANGELS ON SNOW

6. VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS THROWING SNOWBALLS AT EACH OTHER IN SNOWBALL FIGHT

Washington received its first major snow storm of the season on Sunday (January 25) bringing teams of workers out to clear snow from the U.S. capitol, the Supreme Court and other federal buildings.

Forecasters said snow, sleet, freezing rain and dangerously frigid temperatures would remain in the Washington, D.C. region through much of the coming week.

As crews worked to remove the snow, nearby residents braved the cold temperatures and slick weather conditions to play and sled in the snow outside the U.S. Capitol.

Washington, D.C. and 17 states have declared weather emergencies, according to he Department of Homeland Security.

(9815-USA-WEATHER/WASHINGTON-CAPITOL HILL)

WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATS (JANUARY 25, 2026) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

6. U.S. CAPITOL / SNOW PLOW TRUCK CLEARING SNOW / PERSON PULLING GIRL ON A PLASTIC TOBOGGAN

7. VIEW OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

8. PLOW TRUCK CLEARING SNOW

9. VIEW OF U.S. CAPITOL WITH SNOW PLOW TRUCK

10. WOMAN PULLING CHILD IN AN INFLATABLE TUBE

11. SLEDDING ON GROUNDS OUTSIDE U.S. CAPITOL

12. MAN GIVING CHILD A PUSH ON HER SLED AND SHE GLIDES DOWN HILL

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING:

"It's beautiful. It's so fun to go down Capitol Hill. It was great powder this morning. It's getting a little sleety now, but we're having a great time."

14. SLEDDING ON GROUNDS OUTSIDE U.S. CAPITOL

A heavy blanket of snow covered Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas on Saturday (January 25) after a monster winter storm converged with bitter Arctic cold and engulfed much of the United States from the Rockies to the Eastern Seaboard.

Aerial images over Oklahoma City, the capital and the largest city of Oklahoma, showed snow-covered neighbourhoods, frozen ponds and near empty streets. Airline crews de-iced a commercial plane before it departed from Will Rogers International Airport and a small private plane was seen landing at the airport but local media reported that most flights in and out of the city had been otherwise canceled due to the weather.(9826-USA-WEATHER/OKLAHOMA-AERIALS)

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2026) (ABC AFFILIATE KOCO - Broadcast: No use USA. No Archive. Digital: No use USA. No Archive.) (AERIALS)

15. AERIAL OF SNOW-COVERED STREETS

16. A LINE OF SNOW PLOW TRUCKS ARRIVING AT A FACILITY FOR SALT

17. SNOW PLOW TRUCK CLEARING A PATH AS THEY APPROACH THE FACILITY

18. TRUCKS ARRIVING AT FACILITY AND BEING LOADED WITH SALT

19. MORE OF SNOW-COVERED AREA

20. PLANE BEING DE-ICED BEFORE DEPARTURE AT WILL ROGERS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Snow fell steadily across Philadelphia on Sunday (January 25), coating roads as vehicles travelled through slick conditions and plow trucks worked to clear major routes.

People were seen shoveling sidewalks and trudging through accumulating snow, while even a lone bicyclist navigated the wintry weather.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have declared weather emergencies, the Department of Homeland Security said.

(9824-USA-WEATHER/PHILADELPHIA)

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2026) (ABC AFFILIATE WPVI- No use USA. No archive.)

21. (MUTE) SNOW PLOW TRUCK DRIVING DOWN STREET

22. (MUTE) MAN WALKING DOWN SIDEWALK

23. DRIVING SHOT PAST HOUSES AS SNOW PLOW TRUCK DRIVES DOWN IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION

24. (MUTE) VARIOUS OF MAN PUSHING SNOW BLOWER

New Jersey braced for up to a foot or more of snow on Sunday (January 25) as a massive winter storm spread across the United States, bringing freezing temperatures, icy conditions and widespread risks of power outages to millions.

Forecasters said snow, sleet, freezing rain and dangerously frigid temperatures would sweep the eastern two-thirds of the nation on Sunday and into the week, disrupting travel and government operations.

(9822-USA-WEATHER/NEW JERSEY)

MONTVALE, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

25. VEHICLES DRIVING ON SNOW COVERED STREET

26. VARIOUS OF SNOW PLOW TRUCKS PASSING BY

More than 850,000 customers in the U.S. as far west as New Mexico were without electricity and over 10,000 flights were cancelled on Sunday (January 25) during a monster winter storm that paralyzed eastern and southern states with heavy snow and ice.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday (January 25) warned residents to stay indoors and off the roads. She said some parts of the state were seeing record temperatures including in Watertown where the actual temperature was -34 degrees Farenheit and -49 degrees Farenheit in the village of Copenhagen.(9834-USA-WEATHER/NEW YORK-HOCHUL)

ALBANY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2026)(GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK HANDOUT - Access all)

27. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAYING:

"This is certainly the coldest weather we've seen, the coldest winter storm we've seen in years. And truly, New York state is locked into a grip here. A sort of an arctic siege has taken over our state and many other states across the nation. And the snowstorm we've been expecting is now under way. But it is it is brutal. It is bone-chilling and it is dangerous. Snow began falling already on Long Island in New York City early this morning. Snow is now falling in Albany and everywhere in between. As I mentioned, we're not alone. It's hitting the entire state and 30 states as well this weekend. So we are anticipating the longest cold stretch and the highest snow totals the state has seen in several years. The longest cold stretch and the highest snow totals in years. Already, records in the state have been shattered."

New Yorkers trudged through blinding snow and fierce winds on Sunday (January 25) as a major winter storm swept across the eastern United States, prompting Mayor Zohran Mamdani to close schools and open warming centers.

Yellow cabs were out in force transporting residents and tourists as snow plows carved paths through accumulating drifts and New Yorkers braved the elements on foot and bicycle.

Mamdani announced that scheduled classes on Monday (January 26) would be held virtually, and joked that disappointed students were welcome to “throw a snowball” at him. He said the city had opened ten warming centers in addition to numerous shelters, hospitals and safe havens for anyone needing refuge from the cold.

(9837-USA-WEATHER/NEW YORK CITY)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2026) (NEW YORK CITY HALL - Access all)

28. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI SAYING:

"As we announced earlier this morning, due to extreme weather conditions, tomorrow will be a remote school day. There will be no in-person instruction. All after school programs, adult education and school-based programing has been canceled."

29. WHITE FLASH

30. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW YORK MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI SAYING:

"And I know that this may disappoint some students, so if you do see me, feel free to throw a snowball at me.

In terms of the forecast, we are continuing to expect up to 11 inches of snow."

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 25, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

NYPD (NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT) SNOW PLOW DRIVING DOWN STREET, FOLLOWED BY BICYCLE RIDERS

31. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF YELLOW CAB AND CROSSING STREET