Winter storm causes record flight cancellations, power outages across US

A powerful winter storm in the United States has caused massive flight cancellations and widespread disruptions to power supply.

According to Reuters, airlines cancelled more than 12,000 flights over the weekend: over 3,700 on January 24 and more than 8,200 on January 25. This marks the highest single-day cancellation total since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Meteorologists forecast that snow, freezing rain, and extreme cold will hit two-thirds of the eastern U.S., with some states experiencing sub-zero temperatures and icy conditions.

U.S. President Donald Trump called the storms “historic” and approved the declaration of a federal state of emergency in South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. “We will continue to monitor the situation and maintain communication with all states in the storm’s path. Take care and stay warm,” he wrote.

According to PowerOutage, over 130,000 customers are without electricity, particularly in Texas and Louisiana. The Department of Homeland Security reported that 17 states and the District of Columbia have declared a state of emergency. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said, “We do have tens of thousands of people in affected states in the South that have lost power. We have utility crews that are working to restore that as quick as possible.”

Among the hardest-hit transport hubs are Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Nashville International Airport, and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

By Vugar Khalilov