A powerful late winter storm has caused widespread disruption across the eastern United States, with thousands of flights cancelled or delayed. The storm system has dumped up to 36 inches of snow in the Midwest and is now threatening the East Coast with high winds and the potential for long-track tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service.
Flight delays and cancellations have mounted at major airports including New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. By late afternoon, FlightAware reported 9,112 delays and 4,763 cancellations within, into, or out of the US. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered ground stops at Hartsfield-Jackson and Charlotte Douglas airports, along with ground delays at JFK and Newark Liberty.
The storm has coincided with a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). TSA workers missed their first full paycheck, leading to staffing shortages and longer security lines. Some airports, such as Louis Armstrong in New Orleans, advised travellers to arrive at least three hours early due to the shutdown.
Kelly Price, a traveller trying to return to Colorado from Florida, told the Associated Press that her Sunday night flight was cancelled early Monday. 'By that time the only place for us to sleep was the airport floor. So we’re all tired and frustrated,' she said, adding that the soonest available flight was not until Tuesday afternoon.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Adam Douty said, 'This massive storm is unleashing winter and springtime hazards at the same time. More than 200 million people could be impacted, from blizzard conditions in the Midwest to severe thunderstorms across the East, along with powerful winds sweeping across dozens of states.'
