Winter storm snarls Xmas holiday travel in parts of US
CHICAGO: Hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands more delayed across the United States as a powerful winter storm swept through the centre of the country, frustrating holiday travellers.
More than 6,500 flights were delayed and some 800 more were cancelled on Thursday, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.
A mix of rain, snow and strong winds also made travel dangerous or impossible on roads, especially in the northern and central plains, where some areas could see over a foot of snow.
Authorities reported white out conditions in parts of Nebraska and closed a section of an interstate road.
North Dakota issued a no-travel advisory for the entire eastern side of the state. A small airport in the city of Fargo was shut down and all flights were cancelled. The severe weather arrived as many Americans were travelling for Christmas.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas – a major hub for American Airlines through which over 200,000 holiday travellers were expected to pass – experienced the heaviest disruptions. More than 450 flights were cancelled and over 600 others delayed.
“Our Christmas vacation is ruined,” stranded traveller Denise Knight told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper.
“By the time we get where we’re going, it’ll be time for us to come back. Now we’ve got hotel rooms, no luggage, no clean clothes and no guaranteed flights until Saturday.”
The National Weather Service forecast heavy snow and gusty winds would persist through early yesterday in north central states while heavy rainfall, with potential flash flooding, was possible in parts of the South.