Cancellation of More Than 8,300 Flights and State of Emergency in 18 U.S. States Due to Snowstorm
The United States has entered a state of wide alert as a powerful winter storm approaches, described as potentially one of the most severe in recent years, with at least 18 U.S. states declaring a state of emergency amid warnings of consequences that could reach the level of natural disasters.
The states that declared emergencies include:
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, in addition to the capital Washington, D.C.
* Flight Disruptions
The storm has caused the cancellation of more than 8,300 flights by the end of the weekend, with expectations of an increase in cancellations over the coming days.
According to data from "FlightAware":
• More than 640 flights were canceled on Friday
• About 3,100 flights on Saturday
• And more than 4,600 flights on Sunday
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport topped the list of the most affected airports by cancellations.
* Warnings Affecting Half the Population
The National Weather Service has announced that about 160 million people—nearly half of the U.S. population—are under warnings and alerts related to the winter storm, which extends from Arizona and Montana in the west to North and South Carolina and Maine in the east.
Warnings for ice and snow have been issued for about 182 million people, while severe cold weather warnings cover more than 210 million people, with overlapping warnings in many areas.
* Snow, Ice, and Power Outages
The storm began yesterday, Friday, and is expected to continue throughout the weekend, accompanied by heavy snowfall and various winter rains, including freezing rain and hail, as well as freezing temperatures threatening widespread power outages that could affect nearly half the country's population.
Weather experts warned that damage in areas covered by ice could reach hurricane levels due to falling trees and downed power lines even after the storm passes.
* Disruptions to School and Events
The severe weather conditions have led to:
• School cancellations in Chicago and several cities in the Midwest
• Shifting Sunday services in several churches to online
• Holding the "Grand Ole Opry" event in Nashville without an audience
• Cancellations or adjustments to carnival parade schedules in Louisiana
* Trump Comments
In a notable comment, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on the "Truth Social" platform:
"A record cold wave is expected to hit 40 states. We have rarely seen anything like this before. Can environmental advocates explain to us where global warming went?".
U.S. authorities continue to monitor the developments of the storm, urging citizens to exercise caution and adhere to instructions, amid expectations of continued severe impacts over the coming days.
