The first major winter storm of 2025 is plowing from the Plains to the Mid-Atlantic, burying a corridor from Kansas through Kentucky and Virginia in heavy snow and dangerous ice. Hundreds of thousands of customers have lost power as ice-laden lines and tree limbs give way, and road conditions have deteriorated to the point that some restoration crews are struggling to reach damaged equipment.

Ice Is the Grid’s Worst Enemy

Even a half inch of ice adds hundreds of pounds of weight to power lines, and this storm delivered more than that in places, alongside black ice that made travel treacherous across Kentucky and neighboring states. Ice-storm outages routinely last longer than wind-related outages because nearly every damaged span must be rebuilt by hand.

Preparing for Winter Outages

• Inspect your standby generator and confirm it will start automatically in freezing conditions.
• Run a test cycle and check battery, oil, and coolant before the next storm arrives.
• Keep natural gas or propane systems serviced, and clear ice and snow from vents and intakes.
• Consider a whole-home system from Generac or Kohler to keep your furnace and pipes protected through extended outages.

Stay Informed

Additional arctic air is forecast behind this system. Watch National Weather Service forecasts closely and keep your backup power plan ready all winter.