
A powerful winter storm sweeping the United States forced major transit agencies to alter routes, warned commuters of severe delays and led to substantial power outages across multiple states. Transit systems in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington prepared contingency plans — including buses with snow chains and shortened routes — while airlines cancelled thousands of flights as airports struggled with heavy snow, sleet and icing. Utilities reported hundreds of thousands of customers without power at peak impact, and emergency services warned of cold‑related risks as repair crews worked in hazardous conditions. Officials urged residents to avoid non‑essential travel, check real‑time service alerts and be prepared for extended outages and disrupted commutes. The storm highlighted vulnerabilities in infrastructure and logistics during extreme winter weather and prompted calls for enhanced resilience planning.