The winter storm poised to sweep through the U.S. this weekend will cause major disruption, but it might also make some people a few extra bucks.
Why it matters: Everyday Americans are increasingly betting on the weather through prediction markets — an activity long reserved as a tool for businesses and big professional traders.
Two of the biggest U.S. grid operators in the path of the upcoming winter storm face critical windows early next week that will determine whether they can meet electricity demand, consulting firm ICF said Friday.
Why it matters: Electric utilities are bracing for heavy demand — with some warning of potential for extended power outages — during the storm.
A massive winter storm is set to hit North America this weekend, and it is poised to bring an unusually large amount of both ice and snow, weather experts told Axios.
The big picture: The storm, which is forecasted to hit a wide swath of the United States and Mexico, is set to produce a variety of winter precipitation including freezing rain, which is especially dangerous and will likely impact regions that rarely experience it.
Over a dozen governors have declared a state of emergency, and thousands of flights have been canceled as a potentially "catastrophic" winter storm begins.
Driving the news: 161 million Americans are under a winter storm warning or watch as of Friday morning, spanning from New Mexico to New England.
Electric utilities across the U.S. are bracing for heavy demand — with at least one warning of potential for extended power outages — during this weekend's major storm.
Why it matters:Meteorologists are comparing the storm to Winter Storm Uri, which in February 2021 left millions without power in Texas and was responsible for at least 200 freezing deaths.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said he doesn't know what's "concrete" in the deal President Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed yesterday, stressing that nothing could move forward without Greenlandic support.
Why it matters: Trump has called the proposal the "ultimate long-term deal" that gives America "everything we needed," but Nielsen being left in the dark about the details risks undermining any solution.
The National Weather Service says it's putting every available resource into forecasting this week's potentially historic winter storm — including "hurricane hunter" aircraft across two fronts.
Why it matters: Nearly148 million Americans are facing winter storm watches spanning 2,000 miles from New Mexico to Maine as of Thursday afternoon.
Cowboys in the American West are increasingly managing cattle not just from horseback, but from smartphones and with artificial intelligence.
Why it matters: AI won't be the end of cowboys. But AI-adjacent tools help fewer people manage more land, quietly redefining the job by turning cattle, fences and water systems into data streams.
