Winter weather storm sees more than 1,000 flights canceled in Dallas as 14 states warn of ‘dangerous’ conditions
MORE than 1,000 flights were canceled in Dallas on Wednesday as states warn of dangerous conditions expected during the latest winter storm.
The wild weather anticipated across the country late this week has led to winter alerts for up to 50million Americans in 14 states.
Forecasters are especially worried about ice as accumulation totals pose a “major threat” to travel and infrastructure.
Some areas could see 24 consecutive hours or more of precipitation and a 1,800-mile swath of icing is possible from central Texas into the Northeast, according to NBC News.
“Widespread hazardous travel and damage to the power infrastructure are expected,” the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) tweeted.
More than 1,100 flights were canceled at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Wednesday ahead of the winter storm, named Oaklee.
American Airlines told The Dallas Morning News that it is expected to have a “significant impact” on its operations.
“The vast majority of impacted flights have been canceled in advance so we could proactively notify and accommodate our customers and avoid last-minute disruptions at the airport,” an airline spokesperson said.
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The expected weather also forced school cancelations for roughly 154,000 students in the Dallas Independent School District.
EXPECTED SNOWFALL
Aside from worries about dangerous ice accumulation, forecasters are also warning of up to a foot of snow in some areas.
Read our Winter Storm Oaklee live blog for the very latest news and updates…
Three to six inches is possible from the Midwest to New England, with 6 to 12 inches forecast from upstate New York to southern New England, NBC reported.
Other cities expected to see snowfall include Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo and Albany, New York, Burlington, Vermont, Portland, Maine, and Boston.
The low-pressure system is already dropping feet of snow across the Rockies on Wednesday, leading to concern about avalanches.
Higher elevations could see up to 4 feet, and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center issued avalanche warnings from Wednesday to Thursday morning.
RECORD COLD
A dozen states in the western portion of the United States could see record low temperatures on Wednesday, with some areas dipping 20-40 degrees below average.
Areas in the Plains are experiencing “life-threatening conditions” as wind chills range from -30 to -50 degrees, according to CNN.
The National Weather Service warned that the dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, the East Coast is seeing temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above average, and the extreme difference in temperatures is creating the perfect environment for ice storms, CNN’s meteorologists said.
The warmer temperatures on the south side of the storm are expected to result in heavy rain in the lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys on Thursday, bringing on the risk of flash flooding.
The wild weather is expected to move off the coast of the US early Saturday, forecasters said.
DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS
The weather beginning on Wednesday follows a winter storm earlier this week that resulted in nasty conditions for drivers.
A 100-car pile-up reportedly left 19 people injured on the I-84 highway in freezing Oregon.
The crash came as winter storm Nancy sent temperatures plunging over the upper Midwest and Northeast.
Another crash involving 20 cars was reported in Detroit last week as snow squalls blanketed the area.
Police warned motorists to drive carefully and keep a longer-than-average distance from cars as weather conditions make driving more difficult.
Michigan State Police troopers added that anyone involved in a crash should stay inside their cars with their seatbelt on.
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