Super snowstorm and frost in the USA: rush to stock up on supermarkets in Washington and New York

Washington and New York are at the center of an exceptional cold wave that is gripping much of the United States. Even before the snow began to fall, the supermarkets did the talking: empty shelves, crowded aisles and trolleys full of essential goods. Bread, meat, milk, eggs, water and batteries disappeared within a few hours, transforming the rush for supplies into the first concrete sign of the weather alarm.

In the federal capital, a video that has gone viral shows entire departments emptied in just a few hours. The winter storm is worrying about the possible effects on roads and supplies. The National Weather Service spoke of intense and mixed winter precipitation, with a high risk of ice accumulations, among the most feared phenomena for the impact on electricity infrastructures.

Blackouts, impassable roads and slowdowns in deliveries are the scenario that has pushed many residents to anticipate problems by stockpiling huge supplies. According to experts, fear of service failures plays a key role in purchasing behavior. The risk is that the assault on supermarkets will end up creating real supply problems, even for goods that are not normally in short supply.

New York, the most intense cold in recent years

In New York the situation is no different. Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned that temperatures were expected to be the lowest in eight years, with snowfall likely to exceed 20cm. Not just snow: the storm will bring with it extreme cold and freezing winds, destined to last throughout next week.

The city has already activated its winter emergency plan, with streets treated with brine, snowplows ready for action and a Code Blue to assist homeless people. The authorities assure that they are prepared, but invite citizens to limit travel and follow official updates.

The death toll is also heavy and risks increasing. Five deaths have already been recorded in New York. The reason for their death is not clear, but the mayor spoke of the extreme cold as the cause, especially for the most vulnerable groups. Two more people have died from hypothermia in Louisiana.

Over twenty states on alert

The cold wave isn’t just affecting the east coast. More than twenty states, from the Midwest to the South, have activated emergency protocols. Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee and Louisiana are facing snowfall, freezing rain and sharp drops in temperatures, with ice accumulations described as potentially catastrophic. In some areas there have already been widespread blackouts: tens of thousands of families are without electricity, especially in Texas and Louisiana.

Transport in crisis and canceled flights

The frost is also putting pressure on the transport system. Airports in New York, Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta and Chicago are among the hardest hit, with thousands of flights canceled over the weekend and further disruption expected in the following days. Airlines are offering free rebookings, while meteorologists warn that conditions will remain difficult even after the storm’s most intense phase passes.

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