Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama Face Massive Power Outages After Historic Winter Storm Leaves Over One Million Without Electricity

UNITED STATES — A crippling winter storm across the Deep South has triggered widespread and long-lasting power outages, with entire counties in Mississippi now without electricity and utility officials warning that full restoration could take weeks in the hardest-hit areas.

As of Sunday afternoon, outage data confirms that more than one million customers across multiple Southern states are without power following a combination of ice accumulation, heavy snow, falling trees, and downed power lines.

Mississippi at the Center of the Power Crisis

Mississippi has emerged as the epicenter of the outage disaster, where ice loading on trees and power infrastructure caused catastrophic failures across large portions of the state.

• Some counties are reporting near-total or total power loss
• Restoration timelines in the worst-hit areas are measured in weeks, not days
• Ice damage has made many roads impassable, slowing repair crews

Utility crews are facing extreme challenges as frozen roads, broken poles, and widespread tree damage complicate access to outage zones.

Outages by State: Millions Affected Across the South

Latest regional outage estimates show major impacts across several states:

• Mississippi: ~310,000 customers without power
• Louisiana: ~130,000 customers without power
• Alabama: ~140,000 customers without power
• Texas: ~75,000 customers without power
• Additional outages reported across Arkansas, Tennessee, and surrounding states

In many areas, outage density maps show large swaths of counties with 60% to 100% of customers offline, underscoring the severity of infrastructure damage.

Why Restoration Will Take So Long

This is not a routine winter outage event. Several factors are extending recovery timelines:

• Severe ice accretion snapping poles and transmission lines
• Widespread tree failures across rural and suburban regions
• Dangerous road conditions preventing rapid crew deployment
• Continued cold temperatures, slowing repairs and refreezing hazards

In Mississippi especially, the scale of damage means utilities must rebuild portions of the grid, not simply reset lines.

Human Impact Growing by the Hour

With temperatures remaining dangerously cold, prolonged outages pose serious risks:

• Loss of heat in homes
• Limited access to water and communications
• Increased reliance on emergency shelters and generators

Emergency management officials are urging residents to conserve phone battery power, check on vulnerable neighbors, and follow local guidance regarding warming centers.

Bottom Line

This winter storm has produced one of the most severe power outage events the Deep South has seen in years, with Mississippi bearing the brunt of the damage. As recovery efforts ramp up, millions remain affected, and full restoration will be a long, difficult process.

If you’re experiencing power outages, road closures, or emergency conditions, share updates from your area and stay with WaldronNews.com for ongoing winter storm recovery coverage.