A megastorm of snow and ice advanced across the United States this weekend, canceling around 13,400 flights and leaving at least 230,000 consumers without electricity. The weather phenomenon affects a large part of the country and is already treated by authorities as one of the most severe winter events in recent years.
According to the agency’s survey Reutersthe direct impact on the electrical system worries state governments and network operators, especially in the South and Midwest. The National Weather Service warned that the combination of heavy snow and freezing rain threatens approximately 180 million people, more than half the U.S. population.
On Saturday (24), states in the Midwest faced thermal sensations of up to -40 °C, a level considered extremely dangerous for human exposure. In Wisconsin, thermometers registered -38 °C in the morning, the lowest temperature recorded in the region in almost three decades.
The intense cold and ice accumulation also directly affected air transport, causing mass cancellations of flights across the country. Airlines reported operational difficulties at snow-covered airports and icy runways.
SEE ALSO:
-
US announces effective withdrawal from WHO and says it will not pay outstanding quotas
Calling the storms “historic,” President Donald Trump approved federal emergency declarations for 12 states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky.
“We will continue to monitor and stay in touch with all states in the path of this storm. Stay safe and warm,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
The National Weather Service described the weather system as an unusually large and long-lasting winter storm. The forecast indicates a large accumulation of ice in the Southeast, with impacts considered “devastating to locally catastrophic”.
Meteorologists also warn of record cold moving towards the Great Plains until this Monday (26). Dangerous thermal sensation increases the risk of accidents, infrastructure failures and health problems.
Given the scenario, 17 states and the District of Columbia declared a climate emergency, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security. The measure allows for faster mobilization of federal and state resources.
“We have tens of thousands of people in affected Southern states who have lost power. Utility crews are working to restore service as quickly as possible,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
On Saturday (24), the Department of Energy authorized emergency measures to prevent a collapse in Texas’ electricity supply. The order allowed the activation of reserve generation in large facilities, such as data centers, to reduce the risk of blackouts.
This Sunday (25), a new emergency authorization was issued for the mid-Atlantic region, allowing the operator PJM Interconnection to use resources outside the usual restrictions. The decision applies even in the face of limits imposed by state laws or environmental licenses.
