More than 8,000 flights scheduled to take off across the US over the weekend have been canceled as a major storm threatens to lash much of the country, causing power outages and blocking major roads for days.
About 140 million people from New Mexico to New England were under winter storm warnings. The National Weather Service forecast warns of widespread heavy snowfall and a swath of destructive ice stretching from East Texas to North Carolina.
Forecasters say damage, especially in areas hit by snow, could be on par with a hurricane.
By Friday night, the storm's intensity was dropping freezing rain and sleet across parts of Texas, while snow and sleet were falling across Oklahoma. The weather service predicted that after dissipating in the south, the storm was expected to move northeastward, dropping about a foot (30 centimeters) of snow from Washington to New York and Boston.
Governors in more than a dozen states warned about upcoming unsettled weather, declared states of emergency or urged people to stay at home.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told residents on the social media platform
More than 3,400 flights were delayed or canceled on Saturday, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. More than 5,000 people were called on Sunday.
Utility companies are bracing for power outages because snow-covered trees and power lines may remain down long after the storm passes.
The Midwest saw wind chills as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 Celsius), meaning frostbite could begin within 10 minutes.
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In Bismarck, North Dakota, where the air temperature was minus 41 (minus 41 Celsius), Colin Cross was wearing long johns, two long-sleeve shirts, a jacket, hat, hood, gloves and shoes on Friday as he cleaned a vacant unit at the apartment complex where he works.
“I've been here a while and my brain has shut down,” Cross said.
The storm has been a popular topic of discussion for days at the St. Paul Mini Market in Baltimore.
“Everybody on the street talks about the storm,” said owner Ayaz Ahmed.
“Somehow, this time, they did a good job of letting people know that there is a storm coming their way, and everyone knows about storms, but how to deal with them is a different thing,” Ahmed said.
