December 22, 2022 Winter storm news

A winter storm crossing the US is causing treacherous conditions on roadways, extensive flight delays and drastic temperature drops. Here's the latest:

Travel hazards: Officials in many states have urged residents to stay off the roads or exercise caution in the face of extreme weather.

Flight delays and cancellations: During a busy holiday travel week, airlines have canceled over 2,100 US flights as of 3:30 p.m. ET on Thursday and proactively canceled more than 1,000 flights on Friday, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware. There are more than 5,700 delays across the US on Thursday as of 3:30 p.m. ET.

Bone-chilling cold and wind: Wind chill alerts now cover around 150 million Americans, or nearly half of the US population, according to a data analysis from the CNN Weather team.

Casper, Wyoming set a record low of -42 degrees Thursday morning. A record-low temperature of -20 degrees was registered for Pullman, Washington, which was 44 degrees below its average low of 24 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Spokane. 

Meanwhile, much of northern Florida is under a wind chill advisory, while central Florida is under a freeze watch and hard freeze watch.

Crown Point on the Oregon coast is experiencing very strong wind gusts, with the National Weather Service in Portland saying a gust of 86 mph caused a corresponding wind chill of -14 degrees. The weather service said it "would not be surprised" to record a gust of up to 100 mph.

"Not our typical storm": Buffalo, New York — which is no stranger to snow — has declared a state of emergency as it anticipates the storm. A blizzard warning will go into effect at 7 a.m. Friday.

Forecasters anticipate strong, steady winds with gusts of up to 70 mph. One to 3 feet of snow is expected in the city of Buffalo and the favored snow belts south of the city, according to the weather service. Blizzard conditions could last several days, making travel extremely difficult or impossible at times.

Wind chill alerts stretch from coast to coast and cover around 150 million Americans, or nearly half of the US population, according to a data analysis from the CNN Weather Team. All but just a handful of states in the US are impacted by the alerts that stretch continuously from the US/Canadian border to the US/Mexican border.

Wind chills overnight dropped 70 degrees below zero in parts of Montana and Wyoming — a number rarely seen in the US. Current wind chills are between 40 to 50 degrees below zero through much of the Northern Plains and are below zero as far south as Dallas and much of north Texas. 

The amount of the population impacted will likely grow even higher as the Arctic front moves through the East tomorrow. Plummeting temperatures and dangerous wind chills are likely to continue through Christmas Eve and Christmas day across the eastern two-thirds of the country.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order Thursday declaring an energy emergency in the state due to winter weather conditions, according to a news release from the governor's office.  

In the event of power outages, the order would allow for swift delivery of fuel products and streamlined restoration efforts, according to the release. 

Snow, rain, ice, wind and frigid temperatures are disrupting air travel plans across the country.

Airlines canceled over 2,100 US flights by 3 p.m. ET on Thursday and proactively canceled more than 1,000 flights on Friday, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.

Delays were even more extensive, with more than 5,500 on Thursday as of 3 p.m. ET.

The impact is felt hardest in Chicago and Denver, where around a quarter of arrivals and departures – hundreds of flights at each airport – were canceled on Thursday, FlightAware data show.

At Chicago’s O’Hare, snow and ice is causing delays averaging 159 minutes — almost three hours — according to a notice from the Federal Aviation Administration.   

Temperatures at the airport are nearing freezing as the storm is beginning to settle into the greater Chicago area.

The FAA said departing aircraft at Dallas Love, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and Minneapolis airports require a spraying of de-icing fluid for safe travel.

In the busy New York area, the FAA warned Newark flights should expect delays due to visibility issues.

The region’s three main airports are all warning travelers that today's rain and the incoming winter weather front may disrupt their travels.

For those whose flights are still scheduled to fly, the Transportation Security Administration is recommending that passengers arrive at the airport earlier than usual. 

Reagan National Airport’s TSA Federal Security Director John Busch told reporters that all airports “expect to be busier this holiday season than we've been in several years coming out of the pandemic. We've already seen some of our busiest days, yesterday and today and we expect maybe Friday (the) 30th ahead of the New Year's holiday can be also a very busy day.”

But Busch added TSA is “very well prepared to handle additional volume and throughput for our security checkpoints.”

Flight cancellations are racking up quickly for tomorrow. 

Airlines have canceled more than 1,000 US flights scheduled for Friday, according to FlightAware. Thursday’s cancellation figure is approaching 2,000 as of 2:45 p.m. ET.

Thursday cancellations were highest at the Chicago and Denver airports, according to the FlightAware data.

Friday’s cancellations are currently highest in Detroit, followed by New York’s LaGuardia Airport as the storm impacts move east. 

More than 5,300 flights have been delayed on Thursday, according to FlightAware data. 

When winter storms force us to brace for freezing rain, wind, sleet and snow, lives can be in danger. Here are some steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe when extreme cold strikes.

When staying indoors: During cold temperatures or a winter storm, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these tips.

“Never using generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside your home, in basements, in garages, or near windows,” the CDC says. “The fumes are deadly.”

Using the stove for heat is not safe, the CDC warns; instead, use extra blankets, sleeping bags or coats. A well-maintained fireplace or a portable space heater may be a safe alternative.

When venturing outdoors: The CDC and National Weather Service have some recommendations:

Other things to remember: An important risk-reducing measure hinges on wardrobe.

CNN’s Dave Hennen and Jamie Gumbrecht contributed to this report.

Interstate 90 is now closed from Rapid City to Sioux Falls in South Dakota due to sustained high winds causing “blizzard-like conditions,” according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

“In addition to blizzard-like conditions, many stuck and stranded vehicles are blocking lanes of traffic. Officials will continually assess when I-90 can be reopened safely,” SDDOT said.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear urged Kentuckians to stay off the roads Thursday as the state is expected to get hit with severe winter weather.

“We are urging Kentuckians to stay off the roads starting Thursday afternoon. If you are an essential worker and must travel, please follow these safety tips and have a vehicle kit in your car,” Beshear said on Twitter.

During a press conference on Thursday, Beshear added that residents can expect the roads to be “treacherous.”

Kentuckians across the state can expect 1 to 3 inches of snow, but it’s also the wind chills and wind gusts residents should be concerned about, Beshear said.

“The wind chills starting tonight and through Friday afternoon are going to be very dangerous,” Beshear said. “It’s going to be really cold. It’s not going to get above freezing until probably like Tuesday.”

In addition to staying off the roads, Beshear urged residents to check on senior citizens or loved ones who may not have adequate heating systems in their homes.

“We’re taking this very seriously,” Beshear said. “We’ve been through a lot in these last 3 years. We have lost 17,400 plus people in a pandemic, now 44 from flooding, 81 from tornado, I don’t want to lose one person due to this cold.”

The Kentucky National Guard has prepositioned resources and is ready to assist with rescues, if needed, Beshear said. 

A state of emergency for the city of Buffalo will go into effect at 7 a.m. ET on Friday, Mayor Byron Brown said Thursday during a news conference with emergency management officials. 

According to Brown, conditions will deteriorate quickly on Friday. 

“We will see a flash freeze in the morning followed by a rapid drop in temperature, a cold front, and the start of extremely challenging weather,” Brown said. “Strong and steady winds of up to 60 miles per hour are expected. Heavy lake-effect snow will develop in parts of the city with areas of blowing and drifting snow and white out conditions, and the potential for power outages.” 

Brown also said residents should brace for lakeshore flooding. 

Brown encouraged residents to finish holiday and grocery shopping before the end of the day Thursday. 

“This is a very significant storm, a different kind of storm than last time,” Public Works Commissioner Nate Martin said. “Conditions themselves will be dangerous for all individuals. Please do not be on the roads if you don’t need to.” 

Friday’s garbage and recycling collection is canceled, Martin said, as visibility will be extremely difficult. 

Brown said there is great potential of downed trees and power lines throughout the storm. 

David Bertola, a spokesperson for National Grid utility company, said about 2,800 crew members from across the country are expected to deploy to Buffalo and western New York. 

“This weekend is our game day and we’re ready,” Bertola said.