ATLANTA — A winter storm left its mark across the southern United States on Saturday, causing an uptick in flight cancellations and warnings about hazardous road conditions. Schools were closed, and travel disruptions were evident in various regions due to the biting cold and snow brought by the weather system moving toward the East Coast. While snow showers were expected in areas like the Appalachian Mountains and parts of New England, temperatures were forecasted to drop after sunset, increasing the likelihood of melting snow refreezing and creating icy road conditions.
Scott Carroll, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Atlanta, expressed doubts that all snow would melt completely, highlighting that secondary roads are likely to remain slushy and unsafe. While major roadways were cleared for the most part, few drivers were out early on Saturday. In light of the icy conditions, the Atlanta Hawks postponed their game against the Houston Rockets, which was scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Airports were still grappling with disruptions, particularly at major hubs like Atlanta and Charlotte. Throughout Saturday, airlines continued to face issues as they sought to recover from the previous day’s chaos when weather led to significant delays and cancellations. By Saturday afternoon, close to 1,000 flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were reported as either canceled or delayed, according to airline tracking resources.
Sarah Waithera Wanyoike, an Atlanta resident, shared her experience of spending nearly two full days at the airport. She arrived before dawn on Friday to catch a flight to Zimbabwe but ended up stranded for over six hours on the tarmac. After being returned to the terminal, her luggage remained with the aircraft, and she faced difficulty returning home due to instructions to remain at the airport before dawn on Saturday. “People slept with their babies on the floors last night,” she recounted.
Delta Air Lines announced that it was focusing on gaining back its regular schedule on Saturday, noting that morning flights would experience the highest number of cancellations due to a backlog of crews and aircraft from the previous day’s cancellations, which totaled around 1,100 flights.
Meanwhile, the city of Richmond, Virginia, announced the lifting of its boil-water advisory early Saturday after lab tests confirmed the water supply was safe for consumption. This advisory had been in place for almost a week following a snowstorm that disrupted power and caused issues with the city’s water system, impacting over 200,000 residents and resulting in diminished water pressure in homes.
On Friday night, freezing rain had led to power outages for over 110,000 customers in Georgia, although most electricity services were restored by Saturday. The National Weather Service reported minor ice accumulation around Atlanta from the rain. In western North Carolina, some areas recorded up to 4.5 inches of snow in a 24-hour span ending Saturday morning, while parts of middle Tennessee measured nearly 6 inches.
This storm system had previously dumped heavy snow across Texas and Oklahoma before moving eastward, prompting the deployment of National Guard units in Arkansas and North Carolina to assist stranded motorists, with several state emergencies declared.
In Nashville, businesses and religious institutions began the process of cleaning up after several inches of snow blanketed the city, preparing to welcome patrons and congregants for the weekend. Elder Myyah Lockhart expressed determination at Judah Temple of Praise to ensure services would continue regardless of the snowy conditions, stating, “We’re not going to use the excuse of a parking lot covered in snow to not show up and praise our God tomorrow.”
In Alabama, school closures impacted millions of children as officials warned that institutions may have to remain shuttered if secondary roads remain icy. The storm brought an extraordinary amount of snowfall, with some regions experiencing nearly a year’s worth of accumulation. Little Rock saw just under 10 inches of snow, while Memphis recorded over 7 inches, significantly above its yearly average.
The unusual weather pattern, influenced by a polar vortex that typically stays near the North Pole, has begun to descend southward into the U.S. and Europe more frequently. Experts indicate that these events might be on the rise despite a warming climate. The cold snap coincidentally aligned with uncharacteristic January wildfires near Los Angeles, highlighting the bizarre weather extremes currently being experienced.
