Winter storm on Christmas Eve: 10 things to know about 'bone-chilling' holiday weekend in US, Canada

 

On Christmas Eve, a large area of the US and Canada suffered dangerously low temperatures.

Parts of the upper Midwest and interior Northeast are still being hit by a winter storm with heavy snowfall and blizzards as bone-chilling cold continues to sweep the US through this holiday weekend. On Christmas Eve, while a severe winter storm disrupted holiday travel and left millions without power or susceptible to rolling blackouts, a large swath of the US and Canada suffered dangerously low temperatures. Had to do Know 10 things here.

• Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed on December 24-25, and dangerous road conditions forced some people to postpone their Christmas plans.

• An arctic blaze and winter storm on Christmas Eve resulted in the loss of power to more than 400,000 homes and businesses across the US, killing at least 16 people and causing devastating winds, heavy snow and dangerously Power lines were destroyed along with the low temperatures.

• On December 23-24, heavy snow of up to 2 feet fell in some places, and occasional wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, reducing visibility to near-zero. More than a foot could fall, with winds gusting up to 65 mph and temperatures that could feel below zero.

• For some areas, cold storm and severe frost warnings have been issued. It is suggested that people check on their neighbors, charge their electronics and cell phones, find flashlights and keep an eye on local leaders online.

• At least 16 people have died since December 21 in seven different states, as a result of dangerous and deadly weather across a significant portion of the United States.

• As of the morning of December 24, airlines have canceled nearly 2,000 domestic flights due to the severe winter storm, causing chaos at airports across the US and leaving hundreds of Christmas travelers stranded. As of the morning of December 24, there had been nearly 4,000 total flight delays to, in, or out of the United States.

• Temperatures may soon drop into the 50s in parts of the United States. The wind chill factor is estimated to be -35, making it feel even colder in places like Des Moines, Iowa, where the temperature was -7 degrees Fahrenheit on December 23.

• Extreme cold weather stressing power grids resulted in the biggest US power outage in years. The storm moved across the country early on December 24, leaving approximately 1.6 million homes and businesses without power from Texas to New England.

• On December 23, the US experienced the largest one-day drop in natural gas production in more than a decade, as a result of pipe freezes and forced shutdowns of wells. Temperatures dropped below freezing in key producing regions, including top supplier Texas, reducing fuel supplies for heating and power generation in the continental US by 10 billion cubic feet, or roughly 10% from the previous day.

• People have been urged to stay at home rather than travel in some places as it is safer to stay inside. Even if they lose power and it's only 45 degrees inside while it's minus 20 wind chill and blinding conditions outside.