More than 1,300 flights are canceled as winter storm batters the Southeast
A winter storm has knocked out power to over 200,000 customers in North and South Carolina, according to a major utility in the region, forcing people who were left without electricity and heat to stay in hotels and shelters.
By Sunday morning, the storm system had struck a broad segment of the South, leaving close to 11 inches of snow in Lubbock.
The National Weather Service said snowfall in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic was likely to continue through Sunday night as part of a “high-impact winter storm.”
“We expect 1 to 2 inches of snow after 7 p.m. across Virginia and North Carolina,” said Bryan Jackson, a spokesman for the Weather Service. “Until then, there are rates of 2 inches of snow per hour and sleet and freezing rain,” he added.
The service said the storm would stretch from northeastern Georgia to central Virginia.
“Snowfall amounts in some locations will likely exceed a foot and result in several days of difficult or impossible travel, extended power outages and downed trees,” it said.
Sleet, freezing rain and icy roads were expected across much of the area affected by the storm.
On Sunday morning, airlines flying into and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport had reported more than 1,100 cancellations, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website. Raleigh-Durham International Airport was reporting more than 200 cancellations.
Amtrak also canceled or altered service on a number of trains through Tuesday.
Emergency responders were in a state of readiness and urging residents to stay home.
Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia declared a state of emergency Saturday. “Virginians should take all necessary precautions to ensure they are prepared for winter weather storm impacts,” he said.
In Lubbock, authorities warned that some of the 10.5 inches of snow that fell in parts of the city would melt and then refreeze. The city reported more than 60 crashes Saturday night.