ATLANTA (AP) — A fierce winter storm has swept across the southern United States, bringing heavy snow and causing significant disruptions in travel and daily life.
The harsh weather has led to widespread cancellations of flights and treacherous road conditions, prompting school closures and travel headaches for many.
Travel Challenges Persist Despite Clearing Main Routes
After moving eastward into the Atlantic Ocean, the storm is expected to leave behind scattered snow showers in the Appalachian Mountains and New England.
However, temperatures in the South are predicted to drop sharply after nightfall, raising concerns about icy roads as melted snow begins to refreeze.
A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Atlanta remarked on the likelihood of persistent slush on secondary roads, suggesting that the snow may not vanish completely.
Although major highways remained clear, the roads were far from safe due to icy patches, resulting in decreased traffic volumes.
The Atlanta Hawks postponed their afternoon game against the Houston Rockets as icy conditions worsened.
Airports in cities like Atlanta and Charlotte faced ongoing challenges with delays and cancellations, even as some flights began to take off.
Travel had slowed significantly the previous day, further complicating operations.
By Saturday afternoon, nearly 1,000 flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were either canceled or delayed, according to FlightAware, with long lines forming at passenger security.
One Lilburn resident shared her frustrating experience at the airport after arriving before dawn to catch a flight to Zimbabwe.
Instead of boarding her plane, she was left stranded for six hours at the gate.
Meanwhile, reports surfaced of families trying to find a place to sleep on the floor amid the chaos.
Delta Air Lines, the primary carrier out of Atlanta, announced efforts to regain control of operations and hoped to restore regular service shortly.
Richmond Resolves Water Safety Issues
In Virginia, the city of Richmond lifted its boil-water advisory after a week of safety concerns stemming from the storm.
The Mayor confirmed that laboratory tests showed the drinking water was now safe, prompting similar advisories to be rescinded in neighboring counties.
Georgia faced over 110,000 power outages due to the freezing rain that swept through on Friday night.
By Saturday evening, utility crews had successfully restored power to almost all affected customers, leaving only a few thousand still without electricity.
Minor ice accumulation was noted in Atlanta as well.
Western North Carolina saw significant snowfall, with some regions reporting up to 4.5 inches overnight.
Middle Tennessee recorded almost 6 inches.
Earlier in the week, the storm had already battered parts of Texas and Oklahoma, leading Arkansas and North Carolina to enlist the National Guard to assist stranded motorists, while governors declared states of emergency.
Cleanup Begins in Nashville
In Nashville, local businesses began the process of digging out from several inches of snow, eager to resume operations by the weekend.
Community members pitched in, shoveling sidewalks and parking lots ahead of Sunday services.
A food truck owner in east Nashville expressed optimism about welcoming customers back after a day of closure, underscoring the struggle many small businesses face balancing time off with financial stability.
Following the storm, millions of children enjoyed unexpected snow days as schools across the South closed.
However, officials in northern Alabama warned that schools might remain shut if secondary roads remain icy.
Several areas have experienced snowfall that exceeds annual averages.
In Arkansas, some locations received nearly a foot of snow, with Little Rock reporting around ten inches—well above its typical yearly average of just 3.8 inches.
Memphis International Airport saw over seven inches accumulate, vastly surpassing its average of 2.7 inches.
Central Oklahoma and northern Texas also faced substantial snowfalls, with reports of up to seven inches in some towns.
Scientists attribute this extreme weather to the polar vortex, which usually stays confined to the Arctic but occasionally drifts southward into regions like the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Some experts believe such events might be becoming more common, possibly linked to climate change.
In a striking contrast, Southern California grappled with unusually rare wildfires in January, showcasing the unpredictable nature of current weather patterns.
Source: Insurancejournal.com
