[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] A winter storm accompanied by severe cold, heavy snow, and strong winds hit the United States during the Christmas holiday, causing power outages, traffic disruptions, and even casualties. At one point, the number of households without electricity reached 1.7 million, and at least 26 people have been reported dead across the country.
On Christmas Day, the 25th (local time), according to AP News and CNN, the impact of the ‘bomb cyclone,’ an unusual winter weather phenomenon that struck the U.S. during the holiday, extended unprecedentedly from the Canadian Great Lakes to the Mexican border.
Sixty percent of the U.S. population was under watches and warnings, and most regions experienced a sharp drop in temperatures compared to usual. Atlanta and Florida recorded their lowest Christmas Eve temperatures since weather observations began. New York also experienced its coldest Christmas since 1906.
CNN reported that at least 26 people have died due to the winter storm that brought heavy snow and severe cold to most parts of the U.S. since the 21st. AP News conveyed the atmosphere, stating, "Millions remain huddled against the cold on Christmas Day due to the winter storm that has claimed at least 25 lives."
By state, Ohio, where a 50-car pileup occurred, reported a total of 10 deaths. In Colorado, homeless people were found dead due to subzero temperatures. In Buffalo, New York, which was hit by heavy snow, four additional deaths were confirmed overnight in Erie County, bringing the total to seven. A county official warned, calling it "the worst storm," and said more fatalities could occur.
Earlier, in Buffalo, New York, about 500 drivers were stranded on the roads in a snowstorm from the night of the 23rd to the morning of the 24th due to heavy snowfall and strong winds. AP News reported, "Rescue workers were unable to transport patients to hospitals," and "some people were trapped in their cars for more than two days." According to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), as of 7 a.m. that day, the snowfall at Buffalo Niagara International Airport was measured at 109 cm. The airport is scheduled to remain closed until the 27th.
Flight cancellations due to heavy snow, strong winds, and icing continued on this day as well. According to FlightAware, as of 2 p.m., 1,707 domestic and international flights in the U.S. were canceled. More than 2,300 flights were canceled the previous day.
Along with this, reports of power outages came from various places ranging from Seattle to Maine. The scale of outages reached 1.7 million households at one point on Christmas Eve but has since been gradually restored, with about 300,000 households still without power as of the morning. PJM Interconnection, the power grid operator for the U.S. East Coast, had previously warned of the possibility of cascading outages but later stated that demand was sufficient, easing concerns about further blackouts. Additionally, in Jackson, Mississippi, water pipes burst due to the cold wave.
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