The severe arctic winter storm kept the US in suspense on Saturday with masses of snow and freezing temperatures of up to minus 40 degrees. The historic cold front in the center and east of the country is expected to last through Christmas weekend, according to the U.S. weather service NWS. While New York Governor Kathy Hochul sent the National Guard to Buffalo, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was cautiously clear on flight operations.
As the NWS announced on its website on Sunday, snowstorms are expected to continue over the weekend, particularly in the Great Lakes region. In the state of New York particularly hard hit by the freezing cold, Governor Kathy Hochul dispatched the National Guard to Erie County and the capital city of Buffalo on the border with Canada — authorities say emergency services there have practically collapsed in the face of the extreme blizzard.
Waves up to eight meters high in Lake Erie
Meteorologist Kelsey McEwen of Toronto, Canada, wrote on Twitter that waves of up to eight meters high had been reported in Lake Erie as wind gusts of up to 120 kilometers per hour raged over the Ohio city of Fairport Harbor on the lakeshore, according to the NWS.
Couple gives up driving to the Christmas party
A Buffalo couple told AFP they didn’t make the 10-minute drive to their family Christmas party because of the impassable roads. Many firefighters “didn’t even send vehicles to respond,” said 40-year-old Rebecca Bortolin. Her fiancé Ali Lawson said that despite his back pain, he preferred to stay at home: the journey to the hospital was too dangerous.
Millions of travelers were trapped in airports
Meanwhile, the traffic services of various states advised motorists to stay at home – and that during the most popular travel time of the year. Millions of travelers were also stranded at airports including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Detroit and New York en route to their families. The winter storm caused 2,300 US flights to be canceled and another 5,300 to be delayed, according to website Flightaware on Saturday.
With regard to air traffic, US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg issued a cautious all-clear later on Saturday. He wrote on Twitter that “the most extreme disruptions are behind us as airlines and airports begin to recover.”
“Happy to see my family for Christmas”
Zack Cuyler, 35, of New York is now hoping to reach his loved ones in Houston, Texas, in time for Christmas. “I’m just happy to be able to see my family for Christmas,” he told AFP. His flight home had been delayed twice before due to the storm and then canceled altogether.
More than a million homes had lost most of their power by late Saturday night, according to the website Power Outage. Still, people were asked to save electricity. Power cuts have been imposed in some parts of the country, including North Carolina.
Meanwhile, in El Paso, Texas, desperate migrants from Mexico huddled in churches, schools and a community center to warm up, teacher and volunteer Rosa Falcon told AFP. In Chicago, activists provided homeless people with warm clothing, including jackets, hats, gloves, thermal underwear, as well as blankets and sleeping bags.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
