The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Frigid, icy weather plague central and eastern U.S. while millions in Texas remain in the dark

Texas's independent power grid was crippled under high demand and damaging weather after a historic cold snap hit the U.S. over Presidents' Day weekend in 2021. (Video: John Farrell/The Washington Post)
By
, 
, 
, 
and 
February 16, 2021 at 6:07 p.m. EST

At least 14 people are dead in four states from the effects of a record-shattering cold snap and series of winter storms since Sunday. In Texas, as the electricity grid struggles to keep pace with record high demand amid a historic cold outbreak, people are turning to unsafe means to heat their homes. A woman and a girl died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Houston after a car was left running in a garage to keep them warm, according to police.

The Arctic air has also claimed the life of at least one homeless person in Houston, and a 10-year-old boy died after he fell through ice near Millington, Tenn. A tornado associated with the storm system that helped draw Arctic air to the south struck in North Carolina overnight, killing at least three and injuring 10.

Here’s what to know

  • As one winter storm associated with the cold outbreak leaves the East Coast on Tuesday, another is taking shape across the nation’s southern tier, aiming for some of the same hard-hit areas Tuesday night through the end of the week.
  • Some people in Texas have been in the dark for more than 24 hours.
  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is calling for reforming the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the Texas electrical grid. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is also opening an inquiry into the power failures there and in the Midwest.
  • Dallas, Houston, and Oklahoma City all posted their lowest temperatures since at least 1989 Tuesday morning. These cities are under winter storm or ice storm warnings into Wednesday, with more ice and snow forecast.
  • See photos from the hardest-hit regions.
Press Enter to skip to end of carousel

Here's what to know:

As one winter storm associated with the cold outbreak leaves the East Coast on Tuesday, another is taking shape across the nation’s southern tier, aiming for some of the same hard-hit areas Tuesday night through the end of the week.
Some people in Texas have been in the dark for more than 24 hours.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is calling for reforming the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the Texas electrical grid. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is also opening an inquiry into the power failures there and in the Midwest.
Dallas, Houston, and Oklahoma City all posted their lowest temperatures since at least 1989 Tuesday morning. These cities are under winter storm or ice storm warnings into Wednesday, with more ice and snow forecast.
See photos from the hardest-hit regions.

1/5

End of carousel
Live contributors 5
Press Enter to skip to end of carousel
AndrewFreedman
JasonSamenow
MatthewCappucci
BrittanyShammas
PaulinaFirozi

1/5

End of carousel
Loading...