Severe Winter Weather Causes Havoc Across Eastern U.S.

Tue Feb 03 2026 01:30:20 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Extreme cold temperatures and powerful winds lead to home collapses in North Carolina and prolonged power outages in Tennessee amid widespread impacts from winter storms.

Four homes have collapsed into the sea on the Outer Banks, North Carolina, as residents battle freezing temperatures along the eastern U.S. Over 70,000 homes are without power in Tennessee, where utility companies face criticism for inadequate responses to ongoing outages. The winter weather has resulted in the deaths of over 110 individuals nationwide due to hypothermia and related causes, while farmers in Florida deal with crop damage and concerns over rising seas.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Four homes blasted by icy winds on an eroding North Carolina island collapsed into the ocean and Florida farmers anxiously waited for frozen plants to thaw as people across the eastern half of the United States coped with more than a week of sub-freezing weather.

Thermometers hovered below freezing throughout Monday across the northern U.S. from the Dakotas to Maine, with sub-freezing temperatures approaching parts of northern Florida.

As residents of the Carolinas and Virginia dug out from deep snow, over 70,000 homes and businesses in Tennessee and Mississippi entered their second week without electricity due to damage from an earlier snow and ice storm.

“We’re roughing it,” said Terry Miles of Nashville, who had been without power for nine days. “I’ve been camping before and had it easier than this. I feel like Grizzly Adams.”

Since January 24, the death toll from the cold has surpassed 110, including 13 people in New York City where hypothermia was cited as a cause of death.

Winter Winds Collapse Homes in North Carolina

On the East Coast, the weekend saw a bomb cyclone bring heavy snow and fierce winds, resulting in the National Park Service reporting that four unoccupied homes along North Carolina's Outer Banks collapsed into the Atlantic Ocean since Sunday.

The area has seen erosion cause more than two dozen houses to succumb to extreme weather since 2020.

In Florida, farmers took protective measures against freezing weather, including spraying water on plants to guard against ice damage. However, the timing coincided with the busiest shipping period for fern growers.

Nashville Faces Utility Criticism amid Outages

In Tennessee, Nashville Electric Service is under fire for its slow response to widespread outages that affected about a quarter-million customers. Frustration over the situation has prompted city officials to review the utility's storm preparedness and response.

As the weather remains harsh, with continued freeze warnings across many states, authorities reported that road clearing efforts in North Carolina are ongoing as Governor Josh Stein urges patience from residents.