Historic Snowstorms and Arctic Blast Paralyze Life Across Majority of the USA
In a sweeping cold wave, the USA grapples with massive snowstorms and freezing temperatures, affecting millions. This detailed report covers the widespread power outages, flight cancellations, and fatalities due to the severe weather conditions.
The United States is currently battling a historic wave of cold weather and intense snowstorms. According to the National Weather Service, almost the entire country is under the grip of harsh winter conditions, dramatically affecting the daily lives of millions.
States including North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Georgia, Oklahoma, New York, and New Jersey are experiencing extraordinary weather conditions. Severe snowstorms and blizzards in these states have brought life to a near standstill. Authorities express concern over potential fatalities due to what they describe as “deadly” weather conditions.
Electricity outages in North and South Carolina have impacted around 400,000 homes and businesses. FlightAware, a site tracking air traffic, reports that adverse weather led to the cancellation of 966 flights and delays in 5,580 flights.
Furthermore, densely populated cities like New York, Philadelphia, and New Jersey face the risk of severe flooding due to the storm. In New York City, the impending storm brought significant rainfall, forcing pedestrians to use umbrellas and raincoats.
The bitter cold, stretching from Texas to Montana, is moving eastward. Even in the southern states, known for their warm climates, like Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, warning signs against the freezing cold have been put up. The frigid temperatures intensified by strong winds have reached as far as the U.S.-Mexico border, with temperatures in El Paso, Texas, dropping to single digits.
In the northern and midwestern U.S., heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions have led to the closure of numerous schools in Minneapolis, the Dakotas, Colorado, and Wyoming. The cold weather in Chicago and Iowa has caused significant icing and the formation of serious ice masses on roads and various points.
These severe weather conditions have significantly disrupted the country’s transportation system. According to Poweroutages, the winter conditions left nearly 95,000 people without electricity in three states. Additionally, FlightAware reports that 1,090 flights were canceled and 4,221 flights delayed nationwide.
This situation has not only impacted the United States but has also drawn global attention to the increasing severity of weather events, potentially linked to climate change. Experts are calling for enhanced preparedness and resilience measures to mitigate the impact of such extreme weather conditions in the future. As the world watches, the U.S. continues its struggle against this unprecedented weather crisis, underscoring the urgent need for climate action and adaptation strategies.
