More than 5,000 flights have been cancelled across the United States following a powerful winter storm which brought heavy snowfall to several states in the country, severely disrupting air travel.
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‎The National Weather Service, NWS, Tuesday noted that major cities in the US including Rhode Island and Massachusetts have seen nearly 37in (94cm) of snowfall, while New York recorded more than 19in.
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‎With more than 600,000 property experiencing power outages across the US due to the storm. The BBC reported that travels across the region have been severely limited, with some states and cities implementing travel bans during the worst period of the storm.
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‎Consequently, airlines across the country have grounded thousands of flights as snow blanketed major airports, reducing visibility and creating hazardous runway conditions.
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‎According to airport authorities, the widespread cancellation of flights “were necessary due to safety concerns, including icy runways, strong winds, and limited ground operations.”
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‎The heavy snow fall left thousands of passengers stranded as many scrambled to reschedule flight or seek alternative travel arrangements.
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‎Governor of Massachusetts, one of the hardest cities of the snow storm, warned residents to stay off the roads during the period.
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‎”White-out conditions are making travel extremely dangerous. If you get stuck, help will have a hard time reaching you
‎I strongly urge everyone to stay off the roads no matter where you live,” she said.
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‎Airlines have continued to advise travellers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and to consider flexible rebooking options where available.
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‎According to experts, additional snowfall and freezing temperatures can prolong disruptions in coming days.
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‎Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions as cleanup and recovery efforts remain underway.
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