A massive winter storm slammed into the United States this weekend, leaving a trail of ice and darkness in its wake. By Sunday, lights had flickered out in more than one million homes and businesses. The messy mix of sleet, freezing rain, and snow has crippled daily life, and forecasters say there is still more bad weather on the way.
Getting around is nearly impossible right now. Air and road travel have basically come to a screeching halt. If you were hoping to fly, you are likely stuck at the airport.
Airlines have canceled more than 11,000 flights and delayed another 14,000. Meteorologists are warning everyone about “catastrophic ice accumulation,” which makes driving dangerous and flying unsafe.
The ice is causing the biggest headaches, especially for people living in the Southeast. The frozen weight is snapping tree branches and bringing down power lines. According to the tracking site Poweroutage.us, over 1,018,000 customers were without electricity as of Sunday afternoon.
Sadly, the storm has turned deadly. Officials reported multiple deaths, including some caused by the freezing conditions. The recovery won’t be quick, either.
Authorities say the bitterly cold temperatures expected after the storm passes could make cleanup efforts drag on for weeks in some regions.
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While the South deals with ice, the North is freezing over. New York is bracing for its longest cold stretch and biggest snow totals in years.
New York communities near the Canadian border have already seen record-breaking drops on the thermometer. Watertown International Airport registered a bone-chilling -34 degrees Fahrenheit.
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