Extreme wintry conditions grip parts of US during Christmas celebrations

As the world rejoices in the holiday season along with Christmas in festive splendor and warmth, parts of the United States found themselves ensnared in a wintry embrace that, while picturesque for some, wrought havoc for others. 

While some regions basked in the charm of a white Christmas, swathes of the country grappled with a wintry onslaught that brought forth blizzard warnings, icy surfaces, and travel disruptions. From the heartlands of the Great Plains to pockets of the Pacific Northwest, the landscape was painted in varying shades of wintry weather, prompting safety advisories and cautionary measures amidst the holiday cheer.

A wintry blast swept across parts of the Great Plains, leaving behind a blanket of snow and icy conditions that disrupted daily life for many. Blizzard warnings impacted a vast population, stretching from northwestern Kansas through Colorado into most of South Dakota. Simultaneously, other regions grappled with treacherous ice and sleet, amplifying the challenges posed by the weather.

North Platte, Nebraska, experienced its first white Christmas in years, but the celebratory mood was dampened by storm-related complications. Reports from the Nebraska State Patrol unveiled the hazardous aftermath: tractor-trailers skidding off roads, and on Interstate 80, blowing snow turned into a sheet of ice, causing blockages by two large vehicles, urging authorities to advise against unnecessary travel.

South Dakota faced varying forecasts, from snow to imminent blizzard conditions in central and north areas, while the northeastern part braced for freezing rain and ice. Safety advisories flooded social media platforms as Governor Kristi Noem emphasised weather awareness and urged precautionary measures.

The storm's impact rippled through air travel, with significant cancellations and delays affecting domestic flights and those entering and departing the US Southwest Airlines, grappling with prior weather-related challenges in Chicago, faced the brunt with over a hundred cancellations, aiming for a full recovery ahead of operations.

While holiday travellers reached their destinations, over 2.6 million people underwent TSA screenings, highlighting both the resilience and disruption faced during this wintry period.

Amidst this wintry scene, temperatures defied expectations in certain regions. Cleveland, Chicago, and Buffalo experienced unseasonably warm weather, a stark contrast to the wintry conditions elsewhere.

Additionally, the Pacific Northwest anticipated its share of winter woes, with freezing rain warnings in Pendleton, Oregon, adding to the national landscape of icy challenges expected through Tuesday morning.