Major Storm in US Causes Power Grid Crisis and Flight Disruptions

Severe Winter Storm Sweeps Across the US

Photo by Clayton Steward/Bloomberg

A powerful winter storm is sweeping from the southern Rocky Mountains all the way to New England, causing widespread disruptions to travel and putting immense pressure on the nation's power grid. Major cities like New York and Boston are bracing for significant snowfall as the storm continues its path.

Grid Emergency Declared in the Midwest and South

Early Saturday, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which oversees the electric grid in parts of the Midwest and South, announced a level 2 energy emergency for its northern and central regions. This status indicates a critical shortage of electricity, requiring immediate efforts to cut demand. Under these conditions, MISO can access additional power sources and urge local utilities to encourage customers to conserve energy. This is just one step below the most severe emergency level.

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Storm Impact: Power, Travel, and Safety Concerns

The mix of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures is driving up electricity usage and increasing the risk of widespread outages. These conditions are also hampering airport operations, making it harder to clear runways and de-ice aircraft. MISO cited not only the cold but also unexpected power plant shutdowns and limited ability to transfer electricity between regions as reasons for the emergency declaration.

As of Saturday morning, MISO had not provided a comment on the situation.

Forecasters warn that up to half an inch (1.27 centimeters) of ice could accumulate from the southern US up to Northern Virginia, posing threats to roads, power lines, and trees. Heavy snow is expected to blanket areas from Oklahoma through the Ohio Valley, reaching New York and New England by Sunday.

FlightAware, a flight tracking service, reports that airlines have canceled over 10,000 flights in and out of the US through Monday. Major airports in Charlotte, Atlanta, New York, Dallas, and Washington, DC, are among the hardest hit.

According to PowerOutage.US, around 70,000 homes and businesses were without electricity as of 9:25 a.m. in New York, with Texas accounting for about 49,000 of those outages.

In the PJM Interconnection region, which stretches from Chicago to Washington, DC, electricity prices soared to $548 per megawatt-hour at 9:50 a.m., after peaking above $3,000 earlier in the morning.

This region, home to the nation’s largest concentration of data centers, is under scrutiny as demand for power surges, especially with the rise of AI technologies. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has called on companies to ensure backup power is available, particularly at data centers.

Economic Toll and Snowfall Projections

Chuck Watson of Enki Research estimates that the storm could result in up to $24 billion in damages and economic losses. Swiss Re, a reinsurance company, notes that most winter storm damage stems from prolonged freezing, and that average annual insured losses from winter weather have more than tripled to $7 billion since 2021 compared to the previous decade.

Snowfall Forecasts for Major Cities

Snow is expected to begin in New York at sunrise on Sunday, with accumulations possibly exceeding 14 inches by Monday, according to Scott Kaplan of Hometown Forecast Services. Boston could receive up to 20 inches, while Washington, DC, may see 8 inches or more.

This could be New York’s largest snowfall since January 2022, when Central Park recorded 7.3 inches, and Boston’s biggest since February 2022, when 8.5 inches fell. Rob Carolan, CEO of Hometown Forecast Services, suggests this storm could be among the most widespread since the 1993 "superstorm."

Travel and Service Disruptions

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York is urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel on Sunday and Monday, warning of possible interruptions to subway, bus, and commuter rail services. Federal offices in the Washington, DC, area will remain closed on Monday due to the storm.

Reporting contributed by Lauren Rosenthal, Valentine Baldassari, and Ruth Liao.

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