It is expected that the deadly “bomb cyclone” one of a generation moving through USA reach its maximum intensity, which will bring one of the coldest Christmases in history, as well as chaos in travel with more than 6 thousand delayed flights.
The United States National Weather Service stated that their map represents one of the largest expanses of winter weather warnings and advisories in history.
Temperatures have already plummeted 50 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, and forecasters are warning that the worst is yet to come.
“If you wake up in Chicago to -27 (degrees) and you feel like it’s cold, a whole new reality awaits you,” said Britta Merwin, a meteorologist at Fox Weather.
“Behind this cold front, it gets dangerous.”
Places like DesMoines, Iowa, it will feel like minus 37 degrees, which makes it possible to suffer from frostbite in less than five minutes. Denver was the coldest Thursday in 32 years as the temperature dipped to minus 24.
Still, the storm has not yet reached peak intensity, which is forecast to hit the great lakes later Friday, the Fox forecast center said.
More than 458,000 homes and businesses were without power Friday morning, with strong winds expected to hit more as the storm intensifies, creating a life-threatening situation for those without power in such frigid temperatures.
On the roads, treacherous driving conditions have already been blamed for at least two deaths.
A man died in the area of Portland, Oregon, when a truck crashed into the scene of a previous accident. In Kansas CityIn , Missouri, one person has died after a vehicle overturned into an icy creek, police said.
Wind gusts to 50 mph battered the area around Portland, causing trees to topple on homes. In the Columbia River Gorge, gusts exceeded 80 mph, creating potentially hazardous travel conditions.
US officials are urging people to stay home rather than risk their lives trying to travel during one of the busiest times of the year.
“This event could be life-threatening if you become stranded,” warned the National Weather Service in Minnesota, where authorities reported dozens of accidents.
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More than 3,600 US flights were canceled as of Friday morning, with another 2,500 delayed, according to the flight tracking service. FlightAware flights.
Those looking for alternative routes will also have a hard time, as Amtrak will cancel dozens of trains over Christmas, including trains from New York to Chicago.
Some travelers insist they will do whatever it takes, even after warnings that traveling during the historic storm could prove fatal.
Brandon Mattis, 24, was trapped at the airport La New York Guard after her flight to Atlanta, Georgia was cancelled, where she still intends to join the rest of her family for Christmas celebrations.
“We are trying to…discover other routes. Maybe even take a bus from here to Atlanta, which will take us about 21 hours,” she said.
“That is really inconvenient. But whatever we can do just to get there (is) what we’re going to do.”
Others wrestled with the dilemma.
“My family is calling, they want me home for Christmas, but they also want me to be safe,” said Ashley Sherrod, who was planning to fly from Nashville, Tennessee, to Flint, Michiganuntil his flight was cancelled.
“Christmas is starting to, for lack of a better word, suck,” he said.
