A powerful storm lashing the US with heavy snow and polar winds has already caused 17 deaths and this Saturday, 1.7 million people were left without power and thousands of passengers were stranded with flight cancellations.
For the third day in a row, much of the United States experienced near-freezing temperatures. 17 storm-related deaths have been officially confirmed in eight states.
This “bomb hurricane,” defined as a “once-in-a-generation” storm by the National Weather Service (NWS), this Saturday, More than 2300 flights cancelled Another 5300 were delayed, a day after nearly six thousand take-offs were cancelled, according to specialist website FlightAware.
“The most serious disruptions are behind us as flight and airport operations gradually resume,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Twitter.
Many travelers stranded at airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Detroit and New York hoped a Christmas miracle would allow them to get to their destinations for family celebrations.
According to the website Poweroutage.us, the states most affected by power outages were North Carolina, Maine and Tennessee.
The snow on the roads also closed critical routes such as Interstate 70, which crosses the country, blocking traffic in Colorado and Kansas.
In cities like Denver or Chicago, shelters were opened for people to warm up and protect themselves from the risk of hypothermia.
The storm is expected to last through the weekend until temperatures return to normal by the middle of next week, according to NWS forecasts. Until then, “if you must travel or stay outdoors, prepare for extreme cold by wearing multiple layers of clothing and covering as much skin as possible,” the weather service recommended. “In some places, staying outside can cause frostbite within minutes.”
“Hardcore explorer. Extreme communicator. Professional writer. General music practitioner. Prone to fits of apathy.”