Winter Storm Izzy: Hundreds of Flights Canceled, Several States Declare Emergencies

Many flights have been cancelled, roads are still covered in snow and ice, and several states declared emergencies as a winter storm swept across the country this holiday weekend.

The Weather Channel has named the storm Izzy. It is being blamed in multiple vehicle crashes. This has led to the opening of warming centres in some cities and the postponement for some Martin Luther King Jr. Day events.

Here are some details about the effects and preparations made for Izzy so far.

What Izzy’s Brought to You and Where the Storm is Headed

The storm’s spread will cause major travel problems from Arkansas to northern Georgia, and even Maine.

Some parts of western Minnesota and northern North Dakota received 8-12 inches of snow. Some parts of the Twin Cities were blanketed in snow.

Des Moines, Iowa saw snow fall at a rate of 1 inch an hour on Friday afternoon. Saturday morning, the city had more than 14 inches. Izzy is the most significant snowstorm in Des Moines, Iowa since 1971.

As of Saturday afternoon in Missouri and northern Arkansas, at least 3 inches had fallen. Some areas saw more than 6 inches. Also, snowflakes have been seen in Oklahoma City as well as Dallas.

Our full forecast is available here. Click here for radar and maps.

Hundreds of Flights Cancelled

According to Flight Aware, more than 1,000 flights were cancelled for Sunday at North Carolina’s Charlotte/Douglas International Airport as of Saturday evening. Atlanta had canceled more than 261 Sunday flights and Reagan National in the D.C. vicinity, with more than 150.

American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue as well as Spirit Airlines issued travel advisories. Change fees were waived at these and many other airports within Izzy’s reach.

Other major cities affected are Baltimore, Boston, Nashville and New York.

Some Atlanta-Area Holiday Events are Postponed

Officials in Gwinnet County (Georgia) said that Day of Service projects, which are community volunteer events to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, were being implemented. postponed or rescheduled. They advised participants that they check the county website regularly for the most current information.

Power Outages are a Major Concern

As a rule of thumb, once ice accumulations exceed a quarter-inch (which is forecast in many areas), the weight of the snow on power lines and tree limbs can cause them to snap or sag, leading to increased tree damage as well as power outages.

Strong winds will also be generated by the storm in the same area as accumulating ice forecast.

The force of these winds will increase the stress on ice-laden trees, power lines, and cause more downed trees than with lighter winds.

Click here to read the complete story about Izzy’s power outage and ice threat.

Multiple Crashes are handled by the Iowa State Patrol

Iowa’s state police handled more than a million cases. 100 crashesThere were 325 calls for service during the 24-hour period that ended Saturday morning. Although no fatalities were reported in the crashes, at least two involved police vehicles that were being used to respond to calls.

Southern States Issues Emergency Declarations

“This storm will bring significant impacts from snow, sleet and freezing rain in different parts of the state, with likely power outages and travel disruptions,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper released a statement. “North Carolinians should pay close attention to their local weather forecast over the next few days, and make sure they are personally prepared before Saturday afternoon.”

West Virginia in the “State of Preparedness”

Gov. Jim Justice placed the state in alert to prepare for winter weather. This alert signals that the state Emergency Operations Center (and related agencies) will be prepared to position personnel and resources in case of an emergency.

Iowa Interstates Closed

Saturday was the last day that Interstate 80 was open. A sideways truck that was blocking both lanes of I-35 caused a portion of the road to be closed Friday at 12:30 PM CST. About an hour later the road was reopened. For the most current road conditions, travelers are advised to call 511

Schools Closed in Some Areas Friday

Des Moines Public Schools canceled classes Friday. Other school districts in Central Iowa also cancelled school or announced early dismissals.

Drivers Face Slick Commutes

More than 200 plowsTraffic was heavy in Iowa on Friday morning, and operations continued into the evening, according the Iowa Department of Transportation’s road map.

Roads were already treacherous in the early hours of the morning. The Iowa State Patrol asked motorists who lived in the affected areas to report to them. stay home If possible,

The Kansas City Snowplow Map was Busy, Too

The snowplow map of Kansas City showed crews working on streets throughout the city Friday evening. Some schools were closed on Thursday and Friday because of COVID-19.

Georgia is One of Many States Preparing Roads

The Georgia Department of Transportation keeps more than 50,000 tonnes of salt and 46,000 tons of gravel, as well as 407 snow-removal dump trucks.

“Winter weather in North Georgia is expected to hit metro Atlanta this weekend. GDOT is preparing“Brine operations, equipment, materials and staff to respond the threat,” the agency stated in a tweet. “We will continue to monitor the conditions as the storm develops.”

A GDOT official informed The Weather Channel Thursday that those in affected areas should stay at home and not travel.

Here are five facts about snow and Ice in the South.

Shoppers Could Face Worsening Shortages

One expert warned that the storm could have a negative impact on already stressed U.S. supply chains.

”From an impact perspective, with this kind of weather scenario, all it would take is an accident or two for major Interstate closures to occur,” Francisco Alvarez, lead meteorologist for trucking network Convoy, told in an email Thursday.

Alvarez cited Midwest highways as a major concern, for example.

“Basically, if you could make an entire box between Omaha, Sioux Falls and Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Des Moines will be the most dangerous for truckers,” he stated.

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