A powerful winter storm has left millions across the Northeast stuck indoors as blizzard warnings, travel bans, and whiteout conditions continue to batter the region.

With roads nearly impassable and power outages affecting hundreds of thousands, officials are urging residents to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel while the snow and strong winds persist.

The National Weather Service cautioned that blinding snow and dangerously low visibility have made travel “nearly impossible” in some parts of the Northeast. By Monday morning, airports across Long Island and New Jersey had already been buried under roughly 19 to 20 inches of snowfall.

The storm’s impact has also rippled through air travel nationwide. Data from the flight-tracking site FlightAware shows more than 5,000 flights to and from the U.S. were scrapped on Monday, with the biggest disruptions hitting major hubs in New York, New Jersey, and Boston.

A fire risk inside the vehicle
As the dangerous weather also keeps cars buried under snow and ice, experts are also warning drivers about one often-overlooked item that could become a hidden hazard in freezing temperatures — vaping devices.

According to Markus Lindblad, director at Haypp, extreme cold can seriously affect vape batteries. Earlier this winter, he told The Mirror what could happen if you’re unlucky.

If a vape device freezes and is then charged without properly warming up, it can malfunction or overheat, potentially creating a fire risk inside the vehicle. The risk is considered higher with counterfeit or poorly regulated products that lack safety controls.

Cold weather can also impact the e-liquid inside the device. Freezing temperatures may cause the liquid to thicken, expand, or leak — which could stain upholstery or even seep into vents and electrical components, leading to costly repairs.

The safest option during severe winter weather is simple: remove your vape from the car whenever possible. If it must stay inside, experts recommend wrapping it in clothing, like a sweater or hat, and storing it in the glove compartment to help protect it from extreme cold.

1 in 20 Americans uses it
If a vape has been left in freezing conditions, allow it to return to room temperature before charging or using it, and check carefully for leaks or damage.

About 1 in 20 Americans now use e-cigarettes, and teen vaping has skyrocketed, jumping a staggering 1,800% in just the past year. As of July 2025, 8% of Americans reported having vaped in the previous week, a figure that has remained steady between 6% and 8% since 2019, according to Gallup.

As the blizzard continues to disrupt daily life across the Northeast, small precautions like this could help prevent an already dangerous situation from turning into an unexpected emergency. Share this article to help out.