Monster Winter Storm Paralyzes US Travel, Grounding Over 10,000 Flights
A colossal winter storm is wreaking havoc across the United States, forcing the cancellation of more than 10,000 flights and impacting millions of travellers. The severe weather system, described by forecasters as potentially rivalling a hurricane in its destructive power, has triggered widespread travel chaos and significant power outages.
Widespread Disruption and Extreme Cold Warnings
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning affecting a vast swathe of the country, from New Mexico to New England. This alert places over 140 million people, equating to more than 40% of the US population, under threat from dangerously cold conditions. Meteorologists warn that frostbite could develop on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes due to the biting temperatures.
Parts of the Midwest are forecast to plunge to a staggering minus 40 degrees Celsius, with wind chills in Bismarck, North Dakota, potentially reaching minus 41C. Other regions are bracing for temperatures around minus 24C. The agency has cautioned that heavy snow and ice could cause damage comparable to that of a major hurricane.
Aviation and Infrastructure in Crisis
The storm's impact on air travel has been profound. Flight tracking data from FlightAware recorded over 3,800 cancellations on Saturday, with nearly 7,000 flights already called off for Sunday. Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City was among the facilities that cancelled all operations on Saturday, with hopes to resume services by Sunday afternoon.
Beyond aviation, the storm has caused major infrastructure failures. More than 95,000 power outages were reported on Saturday alone, with significant clusters in Texas (36,000 outages) and Virginia (over 10,000 outages). The severe conditions have also led to the cancellation or rescheduling of Mardi Gras parades across Louisiana.
Federal and State Emergency Response Mobilised
In response to the crisis, US President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is coordinating with local officials, stating that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is fully prepared to respond. FEMA has pre-positioned substantial resources throughout the impacted areas, including:
- More than 7 million meals
- 60,000 blankets
- 300 generators
Additionally, approximately 30 search and rescue teams are on standby as the nation braces for the storm's peak. Dozens of state governors have issued urgent advisories, urging residents to stay indoors due to fears that conditions may deteriorate further in the coming days.
Forecast and Continued Threats
The weather service expects the storm warning to remain in effect for much of the weekend, with dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills persisting into Monday. Forecasts predict snowfall could accumulate up to 30 centimetres as the system sweeps across areas including Washington, New York, and Boston.
The agency emphasised the ongoing risk, noting that low temperatures will linger in the single digits (Fahrenheit) for several nights, with wind chills as low as minus 24 Celsius. This historic winter event continues to test the resilience of national infrastructure and emergency services.
