The frigid winter storm that hit the US on Christmas eve left temperatures plummetting and over 18 people dead from weather-related incidents. Over 700,000 people were affected by blackouts on Saturday, and many millions more were on the edge as flights continued to be cancelled, throwing travel plans haywire.
According to the National Weather Service, the deep freeze sent the temperatures down as low as minus 48 Celsius (minus 55 Fahrenheit).
The storm pummeled parts of the Upper Midwestern states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana and the interior Northeast with heavy snow and blizzard conditions. In Buffalo, New York, the storm winds caused whiteout conditions, leaving the emergency response efforts paralysed. The city's international airport was also shut down.
While most deaths were mostly due to exposure, car crashes, a falling tree limb and other effects of the storm, three people died in the Buffalo area following medical emergencies as the weather conditions left emergency crews stranded.
According to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, almost every fire truck in Buffalo was stranded in the snow. "No matter how many emergency vehicles we have, they cannot get through the conditions as we speak," Hochul said.
Forecasters said 28 inches (71 centimetres) of snow accumulated as of Saturday in Buffalo. Last month, areas just south of Buffalo saw a record 6 feet of snow (about 1.8 meters) from a single storm.
Power outages
Over 340,000 homes and businesses nationwide were without power Christmas Eve, reported CNN. The blinding blizzards, freezing rain and frigid cold also knocked out power from Maine to Seattle.
Meanwhile, a major electricity grid operator has warned the 65 million people it serves across the eastern U.S. that rolling blackouts might be required. Pennsylvania-based PJM Interconnection said power plants are having difficulty operating in the frigid weather and has asked residents in 13 states to conserve electricity through at least Christmas morning. The Tennessee Valley Authority, which provides electricity to 10 million people in Tennessee and parts of six surrounding states, directed local power companies to implement planned interruptions but ended the measure by Saturday afternoon.
Across the six New England states, more than 273,000 electric customers remained without power on Saturday, with Maine the hardest hit. In North Carolina, 169,000 customers were without power Saturday afternoon.
Travel disruptions
Over 2,360 flights within, into or out of the U.S. were cancelled Saturday. Data from flight-tracking service FlightAware said total delays tallied more than 6,400. More than 5,000 flights were cancelled on Friday.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNN that the US aviation system "is operating under enormous strain" with two different storms and high winds affecting airports around the country. About 10 per cent of US flights were cancelled on Thursday, he added.
Thousands were stranded across the country. In upstate New York, about 500 motorists were stranded in their vehicles on Friday night into Saturday morning. One person was found dead in a car.
Passenger railroad Amtrak has cancelled dozens of trains through Christmas, disrupting holiday travel for thousands.
Forecasters said a bomb cyclone when atmospheric pressure drops very quickly in a strong storm had developed near the Great Lakes, stirring up blizzard conditions, including heavy winds and snow.
Western New York often sees dramatic lake-effect snow, which is caused by cool air picking up moisture from the warm water, and then dumping it on the land. But even area residents found conditions to be dire on Christmas Eve.
(With inputs from agencies)
