Over 8,000 Flights Canceled in the U.S. Due to Snowstorm; 140 Million People Under Advisory

More than 8,000 flights scheduled over the weekend have been canceled across the United States due to a powerful snowstorm, reports Associated Press. The severe weather is expected to cause damage across much of the country, threatening power outages for several days and closing major highways.

Approximately 140 million people from New Mexico to New England have received storm warnings. The National Weather Service forecasts widespread heavy snowfall and dangerous ice accumulation stretching from eastern Texas to North Carolina. Meteorologists indicate that the damage, particularly in ice-covered areas, could be comparable to that caused by the storm itself.

On Friday evening, the storm front brought freezing rain and sleet to parts of Texas, while Oklahoma experienced snow and sleet. As the storm moves northeast after passing through southern regions, it is expected to deliver nearly 30 centimeters of snow from Washington to New York and Boston.

Governors from more than a dozen states have raised alarms about the impending severe weather, declaring states of emergency or urging residents to stay home.