More than 10,000 flights were scrapped on Sunday as a massive winter storm brought treacherous conditions to the United States. The cancellations represent about 22% of the average daily number of flights across the country, according to data from FlightAware.
The severe weather, which includes heavy snow, rain, and freezing temperatures, has disrupted power for hundreds of thousands of homes in the South. A staggering 839,061 customers lost electricity after the storm hit, with over 289,000 outages reported in Tennessee alone.
Airports across the country were severely impacted, with major hubs such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport seeing hundreds of cancellations. The New York City metropolitan area was also hard hit, with Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport reporting over 400 flight cancellations each.
Forecasters predict that the storm will bring heavy snow to a large portion of the country, with up to 18 inches expected in Massachusetts and surrounding states. The South is also bracing for severe thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast.
As one AccuWeather meteorologist warned, "People may be stuck at home for days without power and heat during the coldest weather we’ve seen so far this winter." The storm's aftermath will also bring extremely cold temperatures, putting communities already hit by travel disruptions and power outages at risk.
The severe weather, which includes heavy snow, rain, and freezing temperatures, has disrupted power for hundreds of thousands of homes in the South. A staggering 839,061 customers lost electricity after the storm hit, with over 289,000 outages reported in Tennessee alone.
Airports across the country were severely impacted, with major hubs such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport seeing hundreds of cancellations. The New York City metropolitan area was also hard hit, with Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport reporting over 400 flight cancellations each.
Forecasters predict that the storm will bring heavy snow to a large portion of the country, with up to 18 inches expected in Massachusetts and surrounding states. The South is also bracing for severe thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast.
As one AccuWeather meteorologist warned, "People may be stuck at home for days without power and heat during the coldest weather we’ve seen so far this winter." The storm's aftermath will also bring extremely cold temperatures, putting communities already hit by travel disruptions and power outages at risk.
This winter storm is a textbook example of how severe weather can wreak havoc on modern society... I mean, have you seen those numbers? 839,061 customers without electricity? It's like the grid just couldn't handle it... The airports are usually pretty resilient, but I guess even they aren't immune to the fury of Mother Nature. And let's not forget about the heat issues that'll follow - it's going to be a real challenge for people who are already stuck at home with no power or heat 
. The whole thing just feels like a perfect storm (no pun intended)...
. Hope ppl r stayin warm & safe out there 
. Its just a reminder dat nature's power is beyond our control, ya know? We gotta respect it 
. Anywayz, idk what i'd do if i was stuck at home for days without power, but i'm sure most ppl would find ways to make it work 
.
i was supposed to fly to LA for a concert on sunday but now its been cancelled lol what am i gonna do? 
my favorite airline should be offering compensation for all these cancellations 
anyway, stay safe everyone and make sure ur heaters r working 
. All these new-fangled flight tracking systems can't even help with cancellations when Mother Nature decides to throw a tantrum. And the power grid, which is still as outdated as my phone's battery life 
... it's only going to be a miracle if they manage to get everyone back online without any major issues.
? And with the forecast predicting days of being stuck at home without power or heat... it's just too much for my liking. Can't they just build some decent winter-proof infrastructure instead of relying on fancy tech to save the day 
I mean, I understand that bad weather is no joke, but 22% of flights getting scrapped is crazy! And poor people who lost electricity, that's just awful. I hope they get their power back on soon and can stay warm. This storm sounds super nasty 
i have like 5 siblings and our parents are away for the weekend so its just me and my little brother in charge of dealing with this mess 
our internet is down too so we're kinda lost without google or anything 
meanwhile all these people in massachusetts are getting 18 inches of snow lol i guess that's one way to get out of work for a few days 
. I mean, what's the source for that data again? FlightAware? I need to see some stats or a study backing that up before I start believing it.
I'm also wondering if these numbers are accurate considering some of those airports were still open for cargo flights. 
.
And poor people stuck without power and heat, that's just no good. I remember when I lived in NYC back in 2010, a snowstorm like this would bring the whole city to a standstill 
. Snow, rain, freezing temps... just when you thought winter couldn't get worse 
.
22% of flights cancelled? That's insane! I was so looking forward to a quick getaway from this crazy winter weather 
️
i mean its one thing to stay indoors when you have heat and power, but imagine being stuck w/ no electricity or heat especially during the coldest part of winter 
also gotta wonder how the mental health aspect of this is gonna play out... all that isolation & uncertainty can be super tough on ppl's minds 
forecasters say we cud b stuck at home 4 days w/o heat & power... brrr 
anyway i was supposed to fly out yesterday but apparently it's gonna be cancelled so i guess i'll get a spa day instead 
can't wait for the snow pics from the north tho 