Over 11,000 flights grounded as massive US winter storm intensifies
A behemoth of a winter storm is sweeping across the country, bringing with it treacherous conditions that have already forced thousands of travelers to cancel their plans. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for widespread heavy snow and catastrophic ice stretching from east Texas to North Carolina, leaving millions of people in its wake.
As the storm begins to take hold, flight after flight has been grounded, with over 11,000 cancellations announced so far. Airlines are scrambling to adapt to the rapidly changing situation, with many rescheduling flights for later in the day or week.
Oklahoma City's Will Rogers International Airport was particularly hard hit, with all Saturday flights canceled and Sunday morning flights also off the schedule. However, officials aim to restart service on Sunday afternoon.
The Texas Department of Transportation posted images of snow-covered highways north of Dallas, as ice and sleet made roads increasingly treacherous. In Mississippi, crews are working to keep up with reports of ice forming on roads and bridges in a third of the state's counties.
For some travelers, the storm is already having a profound impact on their plans. Chris Plank was set to drive from Little Rock to Dallas for work on Sunday, but he's now uncertain about making it due to fears of sleet-covered roads. "All of the power lines are above ground," Plank said, highlighting the risks posed by the storm.
Damage and power outages are expected to be significant, with forecasters warning that damage could rival that of a hurricane. As of Saturday morning, over 95,000 power outages had been reported across the country, with Texas and Virginia among the hardest hit.
Governors in more than a dozen states have sounded the alarm about the storm's trajectory, with some urging residents to stay home altogether. The National Weather Service is predicting that the storm will continue to move into the Northeast, bringing heavy snow and frigid temperatures with it.
As officials scramble to prepare for the worst, concerns are growing about the potential impact on infrastructure and daily life. "Ice is a whole different ballgame than snow," said Georgia's senior state meteorologist Will Lanxton. "It's much more likely to bring down power lines and trees."
In some areas, residents are bracing themselves for a prolonged period of cold temperatures and ice. The Midwest saw wind chills as low as minus 40 degrees on Saturday morning, while North Dakota's Bismarck was plunged into sub-zero temperatures, with winds so bitter that even those seeking shelter had to dress in layers.
As the storm continues to wreak havoc across the country, officials are preparing for a long and difficult clean-up effort. With over 4,000 flights canceled on Saturday alone, it's clear that this is one winter storm that will be remembered for weeks to come.
A behemoth of a winter storm is sweeping across the country, bringing with it treacherous conditions that have already forced thousands of travelers to cancel their plans. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for widespread heavy snow and catastrophic ice stretching from east Texas to North Carolina, leaving millions of people in its wake.
As the storm begins to take hold, flight after flight has been grounded, with over 11,000 cancellations announced so far. Airlines are scrambling to adapt to the rapidly changing situation, with many rescheduling flights for later in the day or week.
Oklahoma City's Will Rogers International Airport was particularly hard hit, with all Saturday flights canceled and Sunday morning flights also off the schedule. However, officials aim to restart service on Sunday afternoon.
The Texas Department of Transportation posted images of snow-covered highways north of Dallas, as ice and sleet made roads increasingly treacherous. In Mississippi, crews are working to keep up with reports of ice forming on roads and bridges in a third of the state's counties.
For some travelers, the storm is already having a profound impact on their plans. Chris Plank was set to drive from Little Rock to Dallas for work on Sunday, but he's now uncertain about making it due to fears of sleet-covered roads. "All of the power lines are above ground," Plank said, highlighting the risks posed by the storm.
Damage and power outages are expected to be significant, with forecasters warning that damage could rival that of a hurricane. As of Saturday morning, over 95,000 power outages had been reported across the country, with Texas and Virginia among the hardest hit.
Governors in more than a dozen states have sounded the alarm about the storm's trajectory, with some urging residents to stay home altogether. The National Weather Service is predicting that the storm will continue to move into the Northeast, bringing heavy snow and frigid temperatures with it.
As officials scramble to prepare for the worst, concerns are growing about the potential impact on infrastructure and daily life. "Ice is a whole different ballgame than snow," said Georgia's senior state meteorologist Will Lanxton. "It's much more likely to bring down power lines and trees."
In some areas, residents are bracing themselves for a prolonged period of cold temperatures and ice. The Midwest saw wind chills as low as minus 40 degrees on Saturday morning, while North Dakota's Bismarck was plunged into sub-zero temperatures, with winds so bitter that even those seeking shelter had to dress in layers.
As the storm continues to wreak havoc across the country, officials are preparing for a long and difficult clean-up effort. With over 4,000 flights canceled on Saturday alone, it's clear that this is one winter storm that will be remembered for weeks to come.
, but 11k flights grounded seems kinda excessive? like can't airlines just fly a little slower or something? and what's with the power outages tho? didn't they prepare for this kinda storm? it's winter, for crying out loud! 
still, gotta give props to the folks in Texas & Virginia who are dealing with all that ice & snow 
sleet & ice r no joke! and i'm low-key worried bout da power outages too, texas & va are gonna get slammed 
cant even imagine how cold it'll b in n Dakota -40 degrees?! 
flight cancellations are thru the roof and millions of ppl are stuck at home 
roads r treacherous and power lines r a mess 
95k+ power outages already reported and thats just the beginnin 
clean up efforts are gonna be a long haul 
. seriously though, 11k flights down the drain? that's some crazy weather, bro! hope everyone stays safe and cozy indoors while the storm rages on 
I'm so worried about all these people who are going to be stuck at home with no power or heat! 
Like Chris Plank said, the risks of sleet-covered roads are super scary. I hope everyone stays safe and warm over there... like, what's a good way to keep yourself entertained if you're stuck inside for days? 
Do people have those fancy indoor games like escape rooms or something? 
And btw, I'm kinda curious why some states are saying "stay home" but others aren't? Is it just because they think the storm will pass faster? 
I mean yeah the weather forecast is pretty dire and we need to take precautions but 11k flights canceled? That's just crazy 
️. While it's no surprise that airlines are scrambling to adapt to the rapidly changing situation, the impact on daily life for many travelers will be significant 
. As we wait for the storm to pass, concerns about infrastructure and power outages will remain at the forefront of everyone's mind 
it's crazy how fast the situation is changing, airlines gotta be like super flexible right now 
but at the same time, I feel terrible for all those people who are struggling to get around because of the weather 
. Like, how can 11,000 flights be cancelled at once? That's just crazy 
.
️. On one hand, 95,000 reported power outages is a lot and I hope everyone stays safe and warm 
. But on the other hand, I saw some videos of people having snowball fights in Texas and that just made me giggle 
. Ice is like a whole different monster than snow, Will Lanxton said and I think he's totally right 
.
️. It sounds like a real challenge for everyone outside 
️
The worst part is, some people are stuck on roads with sleet-covered highways, it's like a scene from a horror movie 
I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the nostalgia of watching old snow day videos from back in the day... but nowadays it's just a total pain to deal with! 
Like, I got my flights grounded for Sunday and I'm stuck at home with nothing to do. But you know what? At least I can play some old-school video games while I wait 
.
. It's one thing to experience cold temperatures in the Midwest or North Dakota, but when it affects multiple states like this... yikes 
.