Rare 'bomb cyclone' warning as 200 million Americans hit by severe winter weather
Tens of millions of Americans endured bone-chilling temperatures, blizzard conditions, power outages and cancelled travel plans ahead of the Christmas holiday weekend, as a rare bomb cyclone extreme winter weather phenomenon was forecast amid unprecedented a winter storm that forecasters said was nearly unprecedented in its scope.
More than 200 million people -- around 60% of the population -- were under an advisory or warning on Friday, the National Weather Service said. The weather service's map “depicts one of the greatest extents of winter weather warnings and advisories ever,” forecasters said.
Power outages have left about 1.4 million homes and businesses in the dark, according to the website PowerOutage, which tracks utility reports. Utilities in Nashville, Memphis and throughout the Tennessee Valley said they were implementing rolling blackouts Friday to conserve power as the region battles an extreme cold front.
And more than 4,600 flights within, into or out of the US were canceled Friday, according to the tracking site FlightAware, causing more mayhem as travelers try to make it home for the holidays.
“We’ve just got to stay positive. Anger is not going to help us at all,” said Wendell Davis, who plays basketball with a team in France and was waiting at O’Hare in Chicago on Friday after a series of flight cancellations.
After his flight to Cincinnati was canceled Friday afternoon, Davis was considering renting a car and driving to Columbus, since train service was suspended. But first he was trying to locate his luggage.
The huge storm stretched from border to border. In Canada, WestJet canceled all flights Friday at Toronto Pearson International Airport, beginning at 09:00 (16:00 CET).
Forecasters said a bomb
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