The United States experienced travel mayhem on Thursday due to a “once-in-a-generation” winter storm that brought temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit (Celcius). Thousands of flights were canceled, and key roadways were closed.
A massive cold front that came down from the Arctic and grabbed chilling hold of the middle of the country disrupted Christmas preparations during one of the busiest times of the year with heavy snow and howling winds.
Weather forecasters warned that it was so cold in some areas that going outside might result in frostbite within minutes for tens of millions of people.
“This is not like a snow day when you were a kid,” President Joe Biden told reporters. “This is serious stuff.”
According to the American Automobile Association, 100 million people were expected to use the roads, but already blinding whiteouts and dangerous driving conditions were on the rise.
