Winter storm in the US: “Life-threatening” cold front

Meteorologists warned that people should not leave their homes. Five people lost their lives on the icy roads.

The US weather service had warned of “record-breaking cold and life-threatening gusts of wind” in advance. An arctic cold front with temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius has swept across large parts of the USA. The US weather service reported that more than 200 million Americans were affected by severe weather warnings on the day before Christmas. “From coast to coast” there were dangers from drastic temperature drops, freezing winds and massive snowfall.

Thousands of flights canceled, warning against driving

The north and midwest of the country are particularly affected – but also the south of the USA. An extreme frost warning has been issued for the states of Louisiana, parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Texas. “Life-threatening” temperatures with strong winds are expected in some parts of the country.

Almost 3,000 flights were canceled nationwide on Friday morning, according to the FlightAware website, and more than 700 were delayed. And people don’t make progress on the ground either. Numerous train and bus connections have been canceled and the authorities warn against driving by car. The weather service warned that those who get stuck on the roads because of snow and ice could face the icy winds as a life-threatening trap.

According to media reports, at least five people died in apparently weather-related traffic accidents in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Danger to life for the homeless

Danger to life exists especially for people who have no home. Everywhere helpers try to save the homeless from the cold. For example, a church mission in Augusta, Georgia, is preparing for an onslaught, according to the New York Times. “On a normal night it might not be a matter of life and death,” said the head of mission, “but now it is.” According to media reports, at least five homeless people froze to death in Salt Lake City, Utah, earlier this week. And even in Miami, where it’s typically warm, the Homeless Relief has put its Cold Emergency Plan into effect.

Biden: “This is really serious”

US media, citing weather experts, warned of the possible emergence of a special and severe storm, a so-called “bomb cyclone”. Values of around minus 45 degrees Celsius have already been measured in the states of Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. “This is not like a childhood snow day, this is real serious,” President Joe Biden warned. A storm “like that which only occurs once in a generation” was predicted for the state of New York.

Frostbite threatens within minutes

In Denver, Colorado, temperatures fell by around 40 degrees within 24 hours as the Arctic cold front passed through.

Meteorologists warned that people should not leave their homes. Anyone who goes outside risks frostbite within minutes. For longer stays there is even a risk of death.

The region around the Great Lakes in the north of the USA was particularly hard hit by the cold. At Chicago Airport, one of the most important in the United States, the snow plows were in constant use, as can be seen on a Weather Channel video. And in the city, too, the winter services had their hands full. According to media reports, almost 300 salt spreaders were used to keep the roads free of ice.

People stock up on groceries

Further east, in the state of Indiana, the governor has mobilized the National Guard to protect people from the expected snowstorms. 150 National Guardsmen are mainly deployed in northern Indiana. Videos from the Weather Channel showed people in supermarkets stocking up on groceries for the coming days.

A storm surge is expected on the east shore of Lake Erie near Niagara Falls, according to the National Weather Service. The water level could rise by several meters. According to media reports, residents near the water in the city of Hamburg in the state of New York have been asked to leave their homes.