2026 winter storms deaths: 150+ killed in 32 days

2026 winter storms deaths have climbed sharply this season. Over a 32-day stretch in meteorological winter, storms and heavy snow were linked to at least 150 deaths in the United States, according to USA TODAY’s review.

The toll reflects several hazards showing up at once. Also, hypothermia, snow shoveling, motor vehicle accidents and recreational activities were among the leading causes of death during two major storms that hit all or parts of the eastern United States. After the late-January storm, Brett Robertson, an associate professor and associate director at the University of South Carolina’s Hazards Vulnerability & Resilience Institute, put it this way: “Winter storms pose multiple dangers at once, and people often underestimate how quickly conditions can become life-threatening.”

Nor’easter blizzard Feb. 22–24 and Northeast deaths

The most recent Northeast blizzard proved deadly when a Nor’easter intensified off the Atlantic coast and struck the region from Feb. 22 through Feb. 24. A dozen deaths were reported, including at least six attributed to shoveling snow.

In Rhode Island, more than 3 feet of snow fell in at least two locations, The Providence Journal reported. Salve Regina University identified one of the fatalities as Joseph Boutros, a 21-year-old student. He died of carbon monoxide poisoning on Feb. 23 while trying to charge his cellphone in a snow-covered car. Another person who died in North Smithfield was shoveling related, according to Joseph Wendelken, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Health. During the Rhode Island blizzard, hospitals recorded at least 263 storm-related emergency department visits, Wendelken said.

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Meanwhile, in Maryland, two people were killed on Feb. 22 when a falling tree struck a vehicle, according to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office. The driver, Michael Lee Simpson, 60, of Deale, and the front seat passenger, Virginia Marie Quesenberry, 43, of Chesapeake Beach, died at the scene, the department said. A third passenger was taken to a trauma center with critical injuries. The Maryland State Police reported responding to 343 crashes during the snowstorm.

In addition, in Massachusetts, Patrick Sarpong, 35, of Vernon, Connecticut, was struck and killed by a tractor trailer on Feb. 24 as he was clearing snow off his car on the side of the Massachusetts Turnpike, according to the Massachusetts State Police. State troopers also reported responding to more than 500 disabled vehicles during the storm. On Long Island in New York, media outlets reported five deaths were attributed to snow shoveling, and the body of one man was found buried under 5 feet of snow.

Bitter cold, hypothermia deaths, and snow shoveling-related deaths

A separate winter storm and a blast of polar air affected the eastern half of the United States from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27. It brought bitter cold and dangerous wind chills into the mix.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a late-February news conference that the cold lingered for days. While some deaths remained under investigation, at least 30 were attributed to hypothermia during that bout of freezing weather.

The National Weather Service noted that signs of hypothermia can be hard to recognize. Reported symptoms include dizziness, stiff muscles and difficulty speaking. The agency advises dressing in layers when going outside and choosing breathable fabric for the base layer.

At the same time, snow shoveling-related deaths were also a recurring concern. Another 11 deaths during the January winter storm were likely related to shoveling snow, according to reports from officials and coroners. In total, USA TODAY research indicates nearly 20 people died as either a direct or indirect result of shoveling snow over five weeks. Doctors told reporters in the USA TODAY Network that lifting heavy, wet snow can be far more taxing than many realize. Forecasters and medical professionals repeatedly urge people to drink plenty of water, take breaks often and dress warmly—especially if they have pre-existing medical conditions.

Avalanche deaths near Lake Tahoe and Utah

Separately, avalanches caused a dozen deaths after heavy snow began falling in the western mountains, creating unstable layers and hazardous conditions.

Feb. 17 – Nine skiers in one group died in an avalanche near Lake Tahoe. Six survived.

Feb. 18 – A father snowmobiling in Wasatch County, Utah, became trapped at the bottom of a steep slope. As his son tried to help, an avalanche caught, carried and buried the father, the Utah Avalanche Center reported.

Feb. 19 – A young girl was killed in an avalanche in the backcountry near Brighton, Utah, the avalanche center said in a preliminary report.

Feb. 21 – A skier died in an avalanche in the Big Cottonwood Canyon region of Utah, according to the center.

Feb. 22 – A person on a snowbike was caught, carried and fully buried in a very large avalanche well above the town of Midway, Utah, the Utah Avalanche Center reported.

According to the avalanche center’s statistics, Utah averages between 3 and 4 avalanche-related deaths a year.

How you can help prevent deaths during winter storms?

Still, emergency management officials, law enforcement officers and hospitals have repeated that preparation can lower risk, even though some deaths are unavoidable. The Weather Service emphasizes that “before a winter storm or any hazardous weather event, preparation is key,”.

Charlie Woodrum, resilience and preparedness lead for the weather service, said households should plan for disruptions that can follow major storms. “Ahead of winter storms, It’s important to have an action plan for your home that includes enduring extended power and water outages that can last up to a week,” Woodrum said. “Beyond having a plan for your family, it’s important to make sure you plan for the care of your pets and watch out for elderly neighbors.”

The weather service routinely encourages people to check in with elderly or otherwise at-risk neighbors or relatives before and during storms, bitter cold and power outages. Woodrum and many police departments posting during the storm also advised people to avoid travel altogether when conditions are bad.

Robertson wrote that “nearby social ties matter during disasters because they help people share information and act more quickly when services are disrupted.” He also urged people preparing for storms to make sure their information is coming from reliable sources.

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