In brief
A powerful winter storm has caused chaos from Texas to Maine, leading to thousands of flight delays and cancellations, widespread power outages, and multiple fatalities. The National Weather Service has reported over 20 inches of snow in some areas, with potential for another storm to impact eastern U.S. cities this weekend.
Several people have died in a winter storm that hit a wide swath of the US, causing thousands of flights to be cancelled or delayed due to conditions. The storm, which caused chaos from Texas to the tip of Maine over the weekend, snarled roadways, knocked out power, and buried major cities under a thick blanket of snow. At least a dozen people have been killed in several US states. Some areas in the northeast saw over 20 inches (50.8 cm) of snow in the last 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), and Canadian officials said the storm has seriously disrupted southern Ontario.Forecasters warn another significant winter storm could hit the eastern US again this weekend. More than 200,000 people had lost power in Tennessee as of Monday afternoon. The city experienced a deep freeze that plunged residents into cold and darkness. Joy Flores, vice president of the Nashville Rescue Mission homeless shelter, told the BBC that there are many trees down and power lines blocking the roads, making navigation impossible. In New York City, a total of eight people have died from Friday to Monday. Central Park recorded 11.4 inches of snow as of Monday morning. In Texas, a teenage girl died, and another was critically injured due to a sledding accident. Furthermore, authorities are investigating the weather-related death of a man found on a highway in North Carolina, and two deaths from hypothermia were recorded in Louisiana. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy warned residents that “it’s not over yet,” with forecasted snowfall expected to bring 1 to 5 inches on Monday. In Canada, Ottawa and Quebec faced the heaviest impacts from the storm, disrupting transportation and causing multiple school closures. Toronto Pearson Airport reported a record 18.1 inches (46 cm) of snowfall on Sunday. As of Monday, airlines faced over 19,000 delays and approximately 5,900 cancellations due to ongoing disruptions. Relief is uncertain, as the NWS indicates the potential for another winter storm this Friday that could affect the eastern US with heavy precipitation and frigid temperatures.
