Last updated November 13, 2026 at 08:30 UTC. This page is updated in place as the situation changes, rather than published as a new article each time.
A large-scale power outage is being reported and tracked by grid monitors. While full details on the exact cause and total customer count are still coming in, events of this size are typically driven by severe weather, equipment failures, or cascading grid problems — and, in rare cases, a strong geomagnetic storm can induce damaging currents in transformers.
It’s worth putting this in perspective: the United States has never experienced a true nationwide blackout. The grid is divided into separate interconnections and regional networks, which limits how far a failure can spread. The largest outage in US history, the Northeast Blackout of 2003, left roughly 50 million people without power across eight states and parts of Canada — but most of the country was unaffected. Other major events, like the 2021 Texas freeze (over 4.5 million customers out) and the 1965 Northeast blackout (about 30 million people), were also regional, not national.
What readers in affected areas might notice: lights and appliances going out suddenly, traffic signals going dark, cell service slowing as towers switch to backup batteries, and gas stations and ATMs going offline. Elevators, garage doors, and well pumps may also stop working.
What to do right now
1. Check the scope. Look at your utility’s outage map or call its outage line to confirm whether the problem is just your home, your neighborhood, or a wider region — that shapes how long restoration may take.
2. Protect food and electronics. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed; food stays safe about 4 hours in the fridge and 24-48 hours in a full freezer. Unplug sensitive electronics to guard against a surge when power returns.
3. Use backup power safely. Never run a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors or in a garage — carbon monoxide kills quickly and silently. Run generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows and doors.
Stay tuned to local officials and your utility for restoration estimates. Most regional outages see power restored in hours to a few days, with critical facilities prioritized first.
Outage and grid data are tracked via US utility reports and federal agencies including NOAA and the Department of Energy; space-weather conditions, when relevant, are monitored by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the US ever had a nationwide blackout?
No. The US grid is split into three largely independent interconnections (Eastern, Western, and Texas), so even the biggest failures — like the 2003 Northeast blackout affecting 50 million people — stayed regional.
How long until power is restored?
It depends on the cause: equipment failures are often fixed in hours, while storm damage or transformer problems can take days. Your utility's outage map is the best source for a local restoration estimate.
Is this outage connected to space weather?
There is no indication of that here — most large outages are caused by weather or equipment failures. A geomagnetic storm strong enough to damage the grid is rare; the last notable example was the 1989 Quebec blackout, and NOAA would issue alerts well in advance of such a storm.
What should I do first when the power goes out?
Confirm the outage's scope via your utility, unplug sensitive electronics, and keep fridge and freezer doors closed. If you use a generator, run it outdoors only, well away from windows.
Update History
Earlier updates on this page, newest first:
- Nov 12, 2026 – The 'sinister' permanent blackout cutting 2.4 million Brits off from loved ones (Metro.co.uk)
- Nov 11, 2026 – Widespread power outage disrupts Casablanca traffic as severe weather hits Morocco – HESPRESS English (Morocco News)
- Nov 9, 2026 – Widespread blackout caused by drone attack on Khor Mor gas field, exposing Iraqi vulnerabilities (The Jerusalem Post)
- Nov 8, 2026 – Ukraine: Russian strikes leave hundreds of thousands without power (France 24)
- Nov 8, 2026 – Inside the ‘Black Sky’ plans for a nationwide blackout (Herald.Wales)
- Nov 7, 2026 – Putins Devastating Energy War On Kyiv; Ukraine Capital Paralysis Amid Widespread Blackout (The Times of India)
- Nov 6, 2026 – Questions remain after widespread Washington County power outage (KUTV)
- Nov 5, 2026 – PlayStation Hits Record 127 Million September Users Despite PS Blackout and No Disc, No Buy Campaigns (TwistedVoxel)
- Nov 4, 2026 – Video: School breaks have been extended in occupied Crimea due to a widespread blackout (UA.NEWS)
- Nov 3, 2026 – BREAKING: Widespread Power Outage Disrupts Water Supply Across Six Gauteng Municipalities (Central News South Africa)
- Nov 2, 2026 – Russian Strikes Leave Hundreds Of Thousands Without Power In Ukraine (Yahoo)
- Nov 2, 2026 – Russian strikes leave hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power (www.mojkraj.hr)
- Nov 1, 2026 – Widespread power outage reported south of Lake Charles (KPLC 7 News)
- Oct 31, 2026 – Russia’s Baltic Exclave Goes Dark as Major Power Plant Failure Triggers Widespread Blackout (UNITED24 Media)
- Oct 30, 2026 – Tens of thousands without power in Anchorage and Mat-Su as high wind slams Southcentral (Alaska Public Media)
- Oct 29, 2026 – Widespread power outage hits Helena Thursday afternoon; NWE says 16K customers affected (The Independent Record)
- Oct 28, 2026 – Power Outages Affecting Millions Across Africa Amid Continent’s Energy Investment Gap
- Oct 27, 2026 – RSF Drone Attacks Cause Widespread Blackout in Southeast Sudan
- Oct 26, 2026 – Storm Boelo Leaves Tens of Thousands Without Power Across UK
- Oct 25, 2026 – Storm Boelo Knocks Out Power to Thousands of Homes Across Western Ireland and Connacht
- Oct 24, 2026 – Storm Boelo: Thousands of UK Homes Still Without Power as Next Storm Approaches
- Oct 23, 2026 – Storm Austen Knocks Out Power to Thousands of Homes in South-West England
- Oct 22, 2026 – Widespread Internet Blackout Reported in North Korea as State Websites Go Dark
- Oct 21, 2026 – Major Power Outage Hits 1.9 Million Maryland Customers; Officials Urge 3-Day Water Supply
- Oct 20, 2026 – Nationwide Blackout Hits Sri Lanka After Coal Plant Trip Destabilizes Grid
- Oct 19, 2026 – Nationwide Blackout in Sri Lanka: Grid Operators Ask Solar Owners to Disconnect
- Oct 18, 2026 – Nationwide Blackout Leaves Sri Lanka in the Dark for Six Hours
- Oct 17, 2026 – Sri Lanka Hit by Nationwide Power Blackout
- Oct 16, 2026 – Widespread Power Outages in Ukraine After Large Missile and Drone Strikes
- Oct 15, 2026 – Northern California PG&E Shutoffs Leave Tens of Thousands Without Power
Keep tracking this:
Source: Nacionale
Related Reading
Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: Waxing Crescent (14% illuminated), in Capricorn.
Notable planetary angles: Moon sextile Mercury (60°), Mars conjunct Jupiter (1°), Venus sextile Mars (58°), Venus sextile Jupiter (57°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 0.3; strongest recent solar flare: nothing notable.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
