Severe Cold Weather Causes Havoc Across Eastern U.S.

Tue Feb 03 2026 19:18:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

With sub-zero temperatures gripping the eastern U.S., homes are collapsing, utilities are failing, and farmers face disastrous conditions as the cold toll continues to rise.

Recent icy winds have caused significant destruction across the Eastern United States, with homes collapsing into the ocean in North Carolina and power outages affecting tens of thousands in Tennessee and Mississippi. A growing death toll attributed to the extreme cold includes suspected hypothermia cases in multiple states. In Florida, farmers are anxiously awaiting to assess the damage to crops ahead of Valentine's Day shipments.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Four homes blasted by icy winds on an eroding North Carolina island collapsed into the ocean, while farmers in Florida anxiously awaited the thaw of their frozen plants. People across the eastern half of the United States continue to cope with a brutal stretch of sub-freezing weather.

Throughout the day on Monday, temperatures remained below freezing in northern states from the Dakotas to Maine, with forecasts predicting a return of frigid conditions to the Southeast, reaching parts of northern Florida overnight.

As residents of the Carolinas and Virginia dealt with deep snow accumulations, over 70,000 homes and businesses in Tennessee and Mississippi entered a second week without power due to an earlier ice storm.

In Nashville, Tennessee, Terry Miles reported Monday as his ninth consecutive day without power. He is living with his wife and dog in an insulated bedroom and is limited to heating food and water outdoors on a propane grill.

We’re roughing it, Miles said. I’ve been camping before and had it easier than this. I feel like Grizzly Adams.

Death Toll Surpasses 110

The death toll has surpassed 110 due to the extreme cold since January 24. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani indicated that hypothermia contributed to the deaths of 13 individuals found deceased in subzero conditions.

On the East Coast, the National Park Service revealed that four unoccupied homes in the Outer Banks collapsed due to the severe weather conditions brought on by a recent bomb cyclone.

In Florida, where many farmers deployed ice as a protective measure against the deep freeze, they are now waiting for sheets of ice on their crops to thaw before assessing the extent of damage.

In Tennessee, the Nashville Electric Service faced criticism over the prolonged power outages with over 20,000 still without electricity and complete restoration not expected until February 9.

The National Weather Service continues to maintain freeze warnings across parts of Florida and south Georgia. As conditions persist, various regions are also bracing for more snow early Tuesday.

With nearly a foot of snow falling recently in Charlotte, North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein stated crews are diligently working to clear the blocked roadways as frigid temperatures inhibit progress.

Loller reported from Nashville, Tennessee, and Bynum from Savannah, Georgia. Additional reporting was contributed by AP journalists from various locations.