Winter storm latest: 18 U.S. states declare state of emergency as storm sweeps across the country

President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that he has approved multiple emergency declarations for states affected by major winter storms.

“I have just approved emergency declarations for Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana and West Virginia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We are working closely with FEMA, governors and state emergency management teams to keep everyone safe. Stay safe and stay warm!”

Earlier in the day, Trump approved similar emergency declarations for Virginia and South Carolina.

In response to the storm, Capital Metro in Austin, Texas, will end service for the day at 4 p.m. local time on Saturday.

All services will remain closed on Sunday and may reopen on Monday, depending on conditions.

Austin recently upgraded to an ice storm warning that lasts until noon local time on Sunday. Ice accumulation can reach up to half an inch.

The extreme cold warning will also remain in effect until noon local time on Monday. Wind chills are expected to be as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp told state employees who live and work in northern Georgia counties and those not involved in the storm response to work from home through Monday.

He said state offices in areas affected by the storm will be open again Tuesday, subject to conditions.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger warned residents they have just hours to prepare for a winter storm expected to hit the region Saturday night.

“Please use these last few hours to prepare and make sure you have blankets, warmth and food to weather this storm,” Spanberger said at a news conference Saturday. “Every Virginian should stay off the roads starting tonight, all day Sunday, and at least through Monday morning.”

More flights canceled as winter storm hits central U.S. on Saturday

As of Saturday afternoon, nearly 12,000 flights had been canceled on Saturday and Sunday, the Associated Press reported.

Most of the canceled flights – 8,000 – were scheduled for Sunday, when the storm is set to hit the East Coast and Northeast.

President Donald Trump said Saturday he has approved emergency declarations for Virginia and South Carolina ahead of Saturday’s winter storm.

“I have approved an emergency declaration for the historic winter storm that will hit South Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Trump wrote on Truth Society. “With the help of FEMA and our state partners, we will keep everyone safe and both states have the support they need.”

As of 11 a.m. local time, Nashville was covered in heavy snow.

Nashville could receive up to six inches of snow, with up to an inch of ice possible, according to the National Weather Service.

Windchill’s numbers are in the single digits and will likely remain there into Monday.

Freezing rain and ice have caused power outages and damaged trees in southeastern Oklahoma, according to the National Weather Service.

In Texarkana, Texas, nearly a quarter of an inch of ice accumulated on a large tree branch, causing it to break. Destroyed limbs can damage electrical wiring.

In Memphis, the National Weather Service advised against travel after reports of bands of sleet moving north of I-40.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed citizens Saturday morning, warning that the coming major storm could create dangerous daytime conditions.

“Winds will reach up to 35 miles per hour,” the mayor said. “New Yorkers may experience heavy snow or near-blizzard conditions.”

He also told residents to expect “cold temperatures” next week.

“Frankly, this is going to be colder than any sustained period New York has experienced in eight years,” he said.

Mamdani previously said the city’s sanitation workers would begin salting and plowing roads once the snow reaches two inches.

The city is using more than 700 salt spreaders and 2,300 snowplows to prepare for the storm. Mamdani called the city’s rescue crews “the largest anti-snow operation in the country.”

He urged city residents to stay indoors as much as possible, especially on Sunday and Monday, when hazardous travel warnings will be in effect.

“If you can avoid it, please don’t drive, don’t travel, don’t do anything that could put you or your loved ones in danger,” Mamdani said. “Instead, I urge every New Yorker who can afford it to put on a warm sweater, turn on the TV, watch Mission: Impossible for the tenth time — and most importantly, stay indoors.”

As of Saturday morning, Mississippi already has widespread ice.

The state’s Department of Transportation is asking travelers to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.