A powerful winter storm has paralyzed the Northeast, forcing millions indoors as blizzard warnings, travel bans, and whiteout conditions sweep across the region. Roads have become nearly impassable, airports are buried under close to 20 inches of snow in parts of Long Island and New Jersey, and hundreds of thousands are without power. The National Weather Service warned that visibility in some areas is so poor that travel is “nearly impossible.” The disruption has extended far beyond the snow-covered states, with more than 5,000 flights canceled nationwide, according to FlightAware, hitting major hubs in New York, New Jersey, and Boston especially hard. Officials continue to urge residents to stay home, emphasizing that even short trips could quickly turn dangerous under such extreme conditions.

Amid the storm’s chaos, experts are also cautioning drivers about a lesser-known winter hazard: vaping devices left inside freezing vehicles. Markus Lindblad of Haypp previously told The Mirror that extreme cold can damage vape batteries. If a frozen device is charged too quickly, it may malfunction or overheat, posing a potential fire risk—particularly with counterfeit or poorly regulated products. Freezing temperatures can also thicken e-liquid, causing leaks that may damage upholstery or vehicle electronics. With about 1 in 20 Americans using e-cigarettes, and recent data from Gallup showing usage steady between 6% and 8% since 2019, the warning is timely. As the blizzard continues, small precautions—like removing devices from cars or allowing them to warm before use—could prevent an already dangerous situation from escalating into an avoidable emergency.