89cm Snowfall in Buffalo... Winter Storm Hits US, Causing Power Outages and Flight Cancellations

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] Ahead of the Christmas holiday, a historic winter storm accompanied by extreme cold, heavy snowfall, and strong winds has hit the United States, causing widespread damage.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and others on the 23rd (local time), weather warnings have been issued for areas where 240 million people, equivalent to 70% of the U.S. population, reside, placing them under the influence of the winter abnormal weather phenomenon known as a "bomb cyclone."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

A bomb cyclone, formed when cold Arctic air meets moist air, typically occurs when the atmospheric pressure drops more than 24 millibars within 24 hours, and compared to a regular cyclone, the wind and blizzard power are explosive. The NWS stated, "Winter weather warnings are in effect from the Canadian southern border down to the Rio Grande (the border with Mexico), the Gulf Coast, central Florida Peninsula, and from the Pacific Northwest to the East Coast."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Extreme cold has been confirmed in many places. In the mountainous regions of Montana, temperatures dropped to minus 40 degrees Celsius. Southern states such as Texas and Tennessee also experienced subzero temperatures. Heavy snowfall is occurring in the central and eastern regions including Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York. Buffalo in northwestern New York received 89 cm of snow. More than 180,000 households experienced power outages in North Carolina alone, with the total number of power outages across the U.S. reaching approximately 1.5 million households.

Across the U.S., flight cancellations and delays continued on the same day. According to FlightAware, as of the afternoon, more than 4,500 domestic and international flights were canceled in the U.S. Over 2,600 flights were canceled the previous day as well. FedEx reported that its logistics hub in Memphis, Tennessee, is experiencing disruptions due to severe weather, causing delays in logistics and deliveries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.