Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Winter Storm Tests FEMA Capacity
Coverage from Inside Climate News, USA TODAY, and others
Articles
15
Latest Article
03/27
Active Days
61
Executive Summary
A severe winter storm exposed strain on a downsized FEMA as scientists linked the outage-filled event to Arctic warming and wetter air
- Hundreds of thousands lost power as the storm hit the eastern United States
- The storm grounded thousands of flights and disrupted travel across multiple states
- At least 20 people were killed and more than 600000 homes and businesses lost power
- Trump has cut FEMA staff while signaling he wants to eliminate the agency
- Experts said FEMA coordination is critical when disasters span multiple states
- Scientists linked the storm to Arctic warming, a wavier jet stream and warmer oceans
- ClimaMeter said warming added moisture and increased precipitation in the storm
Quick Facts
- What: A major winter storm tested FEMA and worsened extreme cold impacts
- Where: Across the eastern half of the United States
- Why: Downsized emergency response and climate warming intensified the disaster
- Who: Federal officials scientists and residents across the eastern United States
- When: In late January and early February 2026
Coverage Timeline: 61 Days
Featured Article
News team reports that northeastern winters have shortened over the past five decades due to warming in the United States.
Additional Articles
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On January 26, 2026, Inside Climate News reported how a massive U.S. winter storm tested a downsized FEMA amid climate-driven extreme cold.
Climate scientists in the United States and internationally reported in early 2026 that recent Eastern U.S. deep freezes arose from jet stream and polar vortex dynamics while long-term winter temperatures continue to warm.
Scientists connect heavy snowfall in Massachusetts and Rhode Island last winter to climate change and warmer ocean temperatures.
AccuWeather meteorologists warn that Arctic warming and sea ice loss helped destabilize the polar vortex, producing a major US winter storm this week across North America.
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Experts and the National Weather Service report March heat, rare snow, and flooding rains across the United States, linking increased heat likelihood to climate change.
Satellite observations over 43 years indicate Northern Hemisphere snow cover loss and earlier snowmelt, heightening western U.S. water and wildfire risks and accelerating Arctic cryosphere change.
Scientists report that a weekend eastern United States winter storm was intensified by warming temperatures and atmospheric moisture, challenging infrastructure planning.
Northeast US coastal cities brace for a major snowstorm as Nor'easter Hernando intensifies offshore.
Climate Central, using the Climate Shift Index, reported December 2025 through February 2026 daily temperature attribution that increased warmth likelihood in the U.S. West and reduced cold-event likelihood in parts of the East.
Aspen Colorado residents observed winter storms during a recent cold season in the United States, illustrating that warming trends persist despite cold days.
University of Washington researchers report rain-on-snow warming increases ice-crust avalanches and complicates regional avalanche forecasting across Washington, Idaho, and Montana.
Kristina Dahl of Climate Central links Connecticut's 2025-2026 cold blasts and high Hartford snowfall to climate change risk trends while noting jet-stream attribution uncertainty.
Scientists in California this winter report warm conditions and storms, signaling climate driven hazards.
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Philadelphia residents experience heavier snowfall linked to climate change in January 2026.