A massive winter storm hit large parts of the United States, bringing heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. This harsh weather caused serious problems for travel and power. Millions of people were put under winter weather warnings. The storm was followed by Arctic cold that pushed temperatures to very dangerous lows. Many flights were canceled in major airports across the country. Power outages affected homes and businesses, especially in southern states where such ice storms are rare. Cities like New York, Washington, Chicago, and Philadelphia faced icy roads and had to close some services. Officials warned that the extreme cold could make these problems last longer and could be life-threatening.