Overview and Key Details
Nearly 4,000 flights were cancelled on Saturday in the United States due to an approaching massive winter storm that has already cut power supply for thousands of customers in the west, including Texas, and threatens to paralyze eastern states with heavy snowfall. Meteorologists predict that snow, sleet, and freezing rain accompanied by dangerously cold temperatures will sweep across two-thirds of the country on Sunday and throughout the upcoming week.
Presidential Response
Describing the storms as “historic,” President Donald Trump approved federal emergency declarations for South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia on Saturday.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and stay in touch with all states along the storm’s path. Stay safe, and stay warm,” Trump wrote in a post on the social media platform Truth.
State Emergency Declarations
Several states and the District of Columbia have declared weather emergencies. The National Weather Service in the United States warned of an unusually expansive and long-lasting winter storm that will bring widespread and heavy ice accumulation in the southeastern part of the country, citing “potentially paralyzing to catastrophic impacts.”
Meteorologists forecast record-breaking low temperatures and a dangerously cold thermal feeling that will drop even further in the Great Plains region by Monday.
Flight Cancellations and Utility Precautions
As of 5 p.m. EST, more than 3,900 scheduled U.S. flights for Saturday had been cancelled according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website. Additionally, over 8,800 U.S. flights initially planned for Sunday have also been cancelled, as reported by the website.
Major U.S. airlines have advised passengers to stay alert for abrupt changes and flight cancellations.
U.S. power grid operators intensified precautions on Saturday to prevent rotating blackouts.
Dominion Energy D.N, which operates in Virginia including the world’s largest data center collection, stated that if their ice forecast holds, it could be one of the most significant winter events affecting the company’s operations.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the nature of the winter storm affecting the United States? The storm is described as historic, bringing snow, sleet, freezing rain, and dangerously cold temperatures across two-thirds of the country from Sunday through the upcoming week.
- What actions have been taken by authorities? President Trump approved federal emergency declarations for several states. Several states and the District of Columbia have declared weather emergencies.
- How many flights have been cancelled? Nearly 4,000 U.S. flights were cancelled on Saturday, with over 8,800 more cancellations expected for Sunday due to the approaching storm.
- What precautions are power grid operators taking? U.S. power grid operators have intensified precautions to prevent rotating blackouts amid the anticipated strain on the power grid caused by the winter storm.
- How will the winter storm impact utilities and critical infrastructure? Dominion Energy D.N, which operates in Virginia including major data centers, anticipates significant disruptions to its operations if the ice forecast materializes.
