The mega winter storm sweeping across the US is causing increasing problems for the country’s infrastructure. Authorities said nearly 1.5 million households were temporarily without electricity. Numerous roads were closed on the eve of Christmas due to heavy snowfall or dangerous black ice, and there were sometimes fatal accidents. Millions of American citizens had to cancel or at least change their travel plans for the festival.
The US Weather Service (NWS) spoke of a “historic” event. Temperatures have now dropped to minus 48 degrees Celsius. The size of the Arctic cold front is also exceptional. It stretched from the Canadian border in the north to the Mexican border in the south.
“Stay inside”
More than 200 million people had received severe weather warnings the day before Christmas. Initially, the north and central west of the country were mainly affected. But there were also warnings of extreme frost in states in the south of the country. Saturday night, the storm should move more to the eastern United States. “Dangerous cold” is expected in the eastern two-thirds of the country over the holiday weekend, the US weather service warned. Some states, including New York, have declared a state of emergency.
“I ask everyone not to take to the streets tonight as conditions will worsen as temperatures continue to drop in the state. Wrap up warm, stay indoors and take care of yourself this weekend,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul, 64, urged residents.
bomb cyclone
US media, citing weather experts, warned of the possible emergence of a special and severe storm, a so-called “bomb cyclone”. In the states of Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming, values of around minus 45 degrees Celsius have already been measured. According to meteorologists, temperatures in Denver, Colorado, dropped about 40 degrees within 24 hours as the Arctic cold front passed. “This is not like a childhood snow day,” warned President Joe Biden, 80.
There were also chaotic scenes at the airports. Especially passengers in the north, around the great lakes, had to cancel trips. Chicago and Detroit airports are among the country’s major hubs. Video released by the Weather Channel website showed an armada of snow plows attempting to clear the tarmac at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. About 5,500 flights were canceled Friday night due to weather conditions, with Seattle, New York, Chicago and Detroit airports particularly affected. (SDA/AFP/kes)