US under 'once-in-a-generation' Arctic storm, travel in mayhem
Thousands of flights were canceled, and key roadways were closed due to a budding winter storm across much of the United States.
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Vehicles covered by snow in Murdo, South Dakota, US (Reuters)
The United States experienced travel mayhem on Thursday due to a "once-in-a-generation" winter storm that brought about temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thousands of flights were canceled, and key roadways were closed.
A massive cold front that came down from the Arctic and grabbed chilling hold of the middle of the country disrupted Christmas preparations during one of the busiest times of the year with heavy snow and howling winds.
Weather forecasters warned that it was so cold in some areas that going outside might result in frostbite within minutes for tens of millions of people.
"This is not like a snow day when you were a kid," President Joe Biden told reporters. "This is serious stuff."
Winter Storm in the #US!#WinterStorm #Elliott #blizzardwarning #MIwx #USA pic.twitter.com/eI5eDEokFM
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) December 23, 2022
100 million people were expected to use the roads but already blinding whiteouts and dangerous driving conditions were on the rise, as per the American Automobile Association.
It is worth noting that I-90, a significant road spanning the north, was closed in South Dakota, with officials announcing that it wouldn't reopen until Friday.
This is the scene down here in Northern Kentucky after this massive winter storm hit us. Do not be on the road for the next day it’s that simple people unless it’s an emergency!! #wxtwitter #kywx #ohwx #inwx pic.twitter.com/88LAGXUKhL
— 🌪Gabe Rodriguez🎄 (@Meso1Gabe) December 23, 2022
"Crews are using all available resources from across the state to clean up and restore travel," the South Dakota Department of Transport said.
On Thursday, more than 22,000 flights were delayed, 5,500 were completely canceled, and many of them were at Chicago O'Hare or Denver, two major international airports.
Holiday travel traffic is anticipated to be close to pre-pandemic levels, with Thursday, three days before Christmas, being the busiest day.
The storm could quickly intensify into a "bomb cyclone", according to AccuWeather analysts, through a process known as "bombogenesis", which occurs when the barometric pressure lowers and a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass.
