The United States is experiencing widespread traffic disruptions and paralysis in its transportation sector as a snowstorm across the southern regions, bringing unprecedented freezing temperatures and sub-zero temperatures to states unaccustomed to such harsh conditions. These extreme weather circumstances have led to the cancellation of thousands of flights and serious traffic accidents, including a horrific train derailment.
Details of the storm and its impact on the American South
Heavy snow swept across North Carolina and neighboring states, with authorities reporting accumulations of up to 37 centimeters in some areas, 32 centimeters in Virginia, and over 23 centimeters in Tennessee. This polar vortex comes just days after a previous winter storm struck large parts of the United States, killing more than 100 people and exacerbating the humanitarian and service crisis in those regions.
In Cape Carteret, strong winds pushed snow horizontally, reducing visibility to near zero. The National Weather Service warned that traveling in these conditions could be deadly, especially if vehicles became stuck on isolated roads.
Airports paralyzed and trains crashed
The severe weather severely impacted air traffic, with more than 1,800 flights canceled over the weekend at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, a major hub for American Airlines. To address the situation, the airport announced a 300-strong team working around the clock to clear ice from the runways and access roads.
In the realm of road and rail transportation, cameras in Gastonia captured a horrific scene of a high-speed train crashing into a semi-trailer truck parked on the tracks, completely crushing it. Fortunately, no one was injured. North Carolina State Highway Patrol alone recorded approximately 750 traffic accidents caused by vehicles skidding.
General context and infrastructure challenges
This storm is particularly significant because it is hitting the southern states of the United States, areas that typically lack the infrastructure to handle heavy snowfall compared to northern states like New York or Chicago. The absence of snowplow fleets and the shortage of salt for de-icing in the South mean that even limited snowfall can cause widespread disruption and the closure of schools and businesses.
Climate experts believe that the recurrence of these extreme phenomena, from severe snowstorms followed by frost waves, may be an indication of climate changes affecting global weather patterns, as the weakening of the jet stream allows very cold polar air to leak southward more deeply and frequently than in previous decades.
Expected economic impact
This storm is expected to have significant economic repercussions, particularly with the disruption of overland supply chains and the halt of air freight operations in vital hubs. Flight cancellations not only affect passengers but also the shipment of commercial goods, potentially leading to delivery delays and a temporary increase in the prices of some food and consumer goods in affected areas due to transportation and distribution difficulties.
