Snowstorm in US: Thousands of flights cancelled

International Desk: A winter storm has hit the Midwest of the United States. More than 250,000 customers in Michigan and Wisconsin were without power after Friday's storms hit. Thousands of flights were canceled and delayed. According to Reuters, more than 2,000 flights have been canceled due to strong winds and heavy snowfall. In addition, more than 7,600 flights were delayed in the United States, including Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Flight delays and cancellations in the Midwest and South stranded hundreds of travelers at US airports. Citing flight tracking website 'FlightHour.com', CNN reported, "The storm has so far delayed more than 2,400 flights and canceled more than 2,000 flights. 36 percent of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is domestic." About 40 percent of the flights were cancelled. Chicago Midway International Airport canceled about 60 percent of both outbound and inbound flights.

Delta Airlines said, "We are experiencing some operational challenges due to weather conditions in the Midwest today and winter weather in the region tomorrow." Southwest Airlines said some of its flights to Chicago, Detroit and Omaha may experience problems. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned Thursday that clouds, snow and wind gusts could cause flight delays at certain airports. According to US PowerOutages.US, 137,777 homes and businesses in Michigan were without power on Friday.

And in Wisconsin, one hundred and two thousand 694 customers lost electricity. The storm in the Mid-Atlantic caused severe flooding on the east coast of the United States. Several towns in New Hampshire, Ohio were flooded by the storm. It is feared that the storm will hit important cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston. Blizzards also hit Minnesota and surrounding states. Hundreds of schools in North and South Dakota and Colorado have been closed for the week due to inclement weather.

Authorities said that more than 30 thousand students will take online classes. The U.S. Weather Service said up to 20 inches of snow could fall in some cities, including Minneapolis. And the wind can blow at a speed of 72 kilometers per hour. This week's storm is expected to have the same impact as the one that hit in February 2021.

At that time, millions of people were without electricity, heat and water in the main states of the United States, including Texas, for several days. Then, in December 2022, the power and energy industry of the region was hit by a winter storm named Elliot in the eastern part of the United States. Residents were facing power and gas shortage there for several days.