An American Airlines A321 at JFK during an earlier storm
A major winter storm is battering the South with snow and ice and its effects are fairly wide-reaching. The storm has caused major travel disruptions and power outages after moving south from the Plains.
Schools and government offices were closed on Friday in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Tennessee. Snow began to pile up in these areas on Thursday
On Friday, Snow started to fall in Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.
A second storm is moving south out of Canada is interacting with the southern storm which caused the precipitation to move north. Widespread amounts of 1 to 3 inches of snow are expected in Kentucky and parts of the Midwest through Friday night.
Going into the afternoon, over 3,000 flights within, into, and out of the United States had been cancelled as of 4 p.m. EST and an additional 4,494 had been delayed by the storm. On Thursday, 2,155 flights were cancelled and an additional 6,314 were delayed.
Over 54% of all flights, representing 577 departures, had already been canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport on Friday, the airport which leads the world in cancellations at the present time. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport has reported that 47% of flights, or 377 movements, have been cancelled, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport has posted a 21% cancellation figure, which represents 261 aircraft movements.
Throughout the region, roads were treacherous and officials reported a high number of accidents and slide-offs due to the inclement weather. Some highways were impassable, officials said.
“It’s hard to keep up with Mother Nature, but we’re doing our best,” said Georgia governor Brian Kemp at a press conference midday.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
