At least 11 dead, over 19,000 flights cancelled amid severe winter storm in US

WASHINGTON: At least 11 dead and 19,000 flights cancelled as a brutal winter storm has swept across the United States since Saturday.

The storm, which has dumped snow, sleet, and rain from Texas to New England, has forced authorities to warn residents to stay off the roads. Temperatures are expected to drop to dangerously low levels in the coming days, heightening the risk to vulnerable populations.

New York Mayor Zehran Mamdani reported five people were found dead outdoors on Sunday. Texas confirmed three deaths, while Louisiana lost two residents to hypothermia. In southeastern Iowa, a traffic accident caused by icy conditions killed one person and left two others injured.

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Power outages have left over 820,000 people without electricity, mostly in the southern states, further complicating relief efforts. Authorities have urged people to stay indoors, as the storm has prompted emergency declarations in at least 20 states and Washington, DC.

Air travel has also been heavily affected. Major airports in Washington, Philadelphia, and New York cancelled nearly all flights, leaving thousands of travellers stranded. According to flight-tracking websites, over 19,000 flights, both domestic and international, have been cancelled since the storm began.

Officials continue to monitor the situation, urging residents to remain cautious as the extreme weather moves across the country.