Washington DC in the path of a snowstorm [AFP=Yonhap News]  A powerful snowstorm has made landfall in the United States, causing widespread power outages due to heavy snowfall and freezing conditions, as well as flight cancellations.

The snowstorm is expanding its impact, moving from the South to the Central and Northeast regions, and is expected to continue through the 26th.

Concerns are growing about additional damage as snow, sleet, and freezing rain are compounded by an extreme cold snap.

According to The Washington Post and other sources, as of the morning of January 25th (local time), more than 700,000 households in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Tennessee were experiencing power outages.

Power outages were severe in the Southern region, which was affected by the snowstorm the previous day. In particular, Tennessee experienced power outages affecting 250,000 households and businesses.

Over 10,000 flights were canceled on this day alone, and more than 14,000 flights were canceled over the weekend including the previous day. Flight cancellations were concentrated at airports in the Eastern region, including Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and North Carolina.

The National Weather Service (NWS) announced that 30 to 60 centimeters of snow are expected in the Northeastern United States, including New York and Boston.

Extreme cold is expected to persist across the South and Northeast regions even after the storm passes.

The weather service stated that these regions will "face severe cold and dangerously low wind chills," and that "this is expected to lead to hazardous travel conditions and significant damage to infrastructure over an extended period."

Times Square, New York, covered in snow [Reuters=Yonhap News]  

President Donald Trump described the snowstorm as a "historic winter storm" and approved the declaration of federal emergency for 12 states: South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia.

President Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, "We are continuing to monitor the situation and will remain in contact with all states in the path of this storm. Please stay safe and warm."

At the state government level, at least 22 states and the capital, Washington D.C., have declared a state of emergency.

The weather service predicted that the impact of this snowstorm will continue into next week, stating, "Repeated freezing will turn roads and sidewalks into ice rinks, posing a danger to drivers and pedestrians."

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen urged residents at a press conference the previous day, saying, "The most important thing for residents across the country to do is please stay off the roads," and asked people to remain at home unless travel is unavoidable.

Federal government offices in Washington D.C. will be closed on January 26th. Federal employees working here have been advised to work from home. Many schools in areas affected by the snowstorm are expected to close on January 26th.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stated on its website, "This powerful winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, ice, and life-threatening wind chills," and indicated that "more than 230 million people across 34 states are likely to be affected."