Severe storm
A severe winter storm affected several US states over the weekend, disrupting daily life and travel across the region. The storm brought heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures, and strong winds to areas that rarely experience such harsh winter weather. All of North Carolina and South Carolina were placed under winter storm warnings. Parts of Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia were also affected. Officials asked residents to stay off roads as conditions worsened through Saturday and Sunday.
North Carolina reported some of the most serious impacts. The state highway patrol said around 750 road accidents were recorded in one day due to snow and ice. Snowfall levels were unusually high for the region. Faust, North Carolina received about 14.5 inches of snow. West Critz in Virginia saw 12.5 inches, while Harrisburg, Tennessee recorded more than 9inches. In coastal towns such as Cape Carteret, strong winds reduced visibility and increased the risk to buildings near the shore. The National Weather Service warned that travel could become life-threatening if people were stranded in these conditions.
Travel gets disrupted
Air travel was badly affected as the storm moved across major airport hubs. Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina canceled more than 1,800 flights over the weekend. The airport said large crews were working to clear snow from runways, roads, and terminals. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport also faced major disruptions. More than 600 flights were canceled on Saturday, with additional cancellations early Sunday. Airlines advised passengers to check flight updates before heading to airports. Rail and road travel were also impacted. In one incident in North Carolina, a train struck a truck stuck on snowy tracks. No injuries were reported, but the video highlighted the dangers caused by poor road conditions.
Power cuts
Behind the storm, a surge of Arctic air pushed temperatures well below freezing. Davis, West Virginia recorded -28°F, the coldest temperature in the lower 48 states during the storm. Power outages affected around 156,000 customers, mainly in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana. State governments opened shelters and warming centers to help residents cope with the cold. Emergency generators were installed at key sites to keep essential services running. The storm also forced closures beyond daily travel. Parts of North Carolina’s Outer Banks were shut due to risks to oceanfront structures. In Florida, NASA postponed a rocket fueling test at Cape Canaveral because of freezing weather, delaying plans for a future space mission.
