Flights delayed, schools shut as United States braces for ‘monster’ winter storm

More than half of the US is preparing for the winter storm, which is reportedly spreading from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Lakes.

As snow and bitter cold expands across the Great Plains of the United States, most parts of the country are bracing for the what is believed to be a ‘monster winter storm’, which would pose possible chances of travel chaos and widespread power outages.

The storm would span almost 2,400 kilometers, and bring heavy snow, crippling ice and subzero wind chills to some of the United States' biggest cities. (Getty Images via AFP)

Parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas reportedly witnessed fresh snow on Friday (local time) in what was seen as a prelude to the winter storm expected to converge with bitter Arctic cold and engulf places.

The storm would span almost 2,400 kilometers, and bring heavy snow, crippling ice and subzero wind chills to some of the nation’s biggest cities, according to a report by Bloomberg.

After sweeping across the southern belt, the storm is expected to advance into the north-eastern parts, dumping about 30 centimeters of snow from Washington through New York and Boston. (AP)

More than half of the US is preparing for the winter storm, which is reportedly spreading from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Lakes.

According to news agency Reuters, at least 14 states and the District of Columbia have declared weather emergencies.

Besides, experts have warned of power outages, which could last several days in some places. Airlines have also issued advisories, urging passengers to prepare for cancellations, delays or changes to their flight schedules.

After sweeping across the southern belt, the storm is expected to advance into the north-eastern parts, dumping about 30 centimeters of snow from Washington through New York and Boston.

Americans hoard essentials, precautions put in place

As Americans rushed out to stock up on essentials ahead of the winter storm, they found shelves emptied out with barely any supply left. According to a Fox Business report, panic buying led to cleared out shelves at most grocery stores across Mississippi, Texas and Washington DC, with essentials like water and milk also out of stock. Besides, eggs, sausage and hot dogs were also left in scarce quantities.

Purported videos of emptied out stores and stressed shoppers struggling to find supplies also emerged from New York City. The storm represents the first major test for Zohran Mamdani, an Indian-origin leader who recently assumed the post of New York City's mayor.

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani said that his office would communicate clearly and directly to families and to students as to what it will look like on Monday once he makes a final decision. (AFP)

The city's sanitation department on Friday scheduled a snow alert from 1 am on Sunday, and further noted that this could be the largest snowfall the city has seen in five years. As per the forecast, the storm could last till Monday, and school students should not expect a traditional snow day.

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani said that his office would communicate clearly and directly to families and to students as to what it will look like on Monday once he makes a final decision.

Schools in Chicago were shut on Friday as the district braced for chills that dropped as low as -1 degree Celsius. Ski resorts in Michigan also observed closures because of the extreme cold.

Southern stretches of the United States from Louisiana and Arkansas to the Appalachian Mountains faced “catastrophic impacts” from freezing rain and ice, the US Weather Prediction Center warned.

Power outage, flight delays expected

At least 10,000 flights across the country which were scheduled to take off over the weekend stood cancelled as the deadly storm began wreaking havoc on Saturday and posed high chances of disrupted power and snarl on major roadways due to dangerous snowfall.

Around 140 million people faced a winter storm warning from New Mexico to New England, according to a report by The Associated Press.

The National Weather Service warned widespread heavy snow and a band of catastrophic ice stretching from east Texas to North Carolina.

With heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain expected to take temperatures to a dangerous low, flights have alerted passengers to expect changes to their travel plans.

At least 10,000 flights across the country which were scheduled to take off over the weekend stood cancelled as the deadly storm began wreaking havoc on Saturday. (Getty Images via AFP)

Over half of the flights cancelled a day earlier were in Dallas.

With freezing rain and a snow storm on cards, disruptions to power lines are expected in parts of the US. In Nashville and Charlotte, officials have warned residents to prepare for power outages, frozen pipes and impassable roads, Bloomberg reported. Besides, power prices have also surged in the area.

More than 95,000 power outages were reported across the country Saturday morning, about 36,000 of them in Texas and 10,000 more in Virginia. Snow and sleet continued to fall in Oklahoma.

Weather experts say that while the weekend could be a struggle for Americans, the worst of the snow and ice will likely clear out by Monday.

(With agency inputs)