A big winter storm dumped sleet, freezing rain and snow across much of the U.S. on Sunday, paralyzing air and road traffic while sending temperatures plunging.
A person walks across a street during a winter storm in Philadelphia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A person jogs at JFK Plaza, also knows as Love Park during a winter storm in Philadelphia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A worker throws salt onto the pavement to melt ice in downtown Indianapolis, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Obed Lamy)
Emilia O'Brien, of Michigan, sleds outside the U.S. Capitol, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A person crosses a street during a snowstorm, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Workers shovel snow outside the National Gallery of Art, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A person walks past snowy stairs in downtown Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
People sled at Philadelphia Art Museum steps by the Rocky statue during a winter storm in Philadelphia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Ice is seen during a winter weather event, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Kennesaw, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A man crosses a street while cross-country skiing on a walking trail Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
People wait to cross the street in Times Square during a winter storm, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Abrar Omar walks through Manhattan during a winter storm, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Ice covers tree limbs during a winter storm Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
People walk along the National Mall as snow falls, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
People walk past the Marine Corps War Memorial as snow falls, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Icicles are seen on a power line during an ice storm on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Tucker, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
A person bundles up while walking along the shore of Lake Michigan at Montrose beach in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
A bicycle is covered with scow at North Avenue beach in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
A person takes photos at Montrose beach in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
People take photos at Lake Michigan in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Airport crew plow snow during a winter storm in Philadelphia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Lake Michigan is covered with snow with the skyline in the background in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Airport crew plow snow during a winter storm in Philadelphia, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A person walks across the Brooklyn Bridge as it snows on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Alyssa Goodman)
The colossal storm halted air and road traffic in many areas and sent temperatures plunging.
Experts say the massive winter storm hitting the American East is taking a multi-billion-dollar toll on the U.S. economy. But exactly how much is hard to quantify.
As the storm recedes, residents might be tempted to whip up bowls of "snow cream" — snow combined with milk, sugar and vanilla — after seeing techniques demonstrated on TikTok.
For big parts of the U.S., the past few days have brought lots of snow and lots of cold. The conditions are ripe for slips, falls and other ice-related injuries.
Meteorologists say the powerful nor’easter smacking the Northeast is a classic, record-setting blizzard.
Cities across the U.S. are integrating upgrades such as video monitoring, GPS mapping and artificial intelligence into snow operations that once relied almost entirely on manual planning.
