Arctic storm wreaks havoc in U.S. on Christmas Eve

A once-in-a-generation winter storm has caused a sudden cold snap in parts of the U.S. and caused chaos on the eve of the Christmas travel season, with thousands of flights canceled and major highways closed.

Heavy snowfall and gale force winds disrupted the vacation plans of millions of Americans after a huge Arctic front hit the country.

Tens of millions of people have been advised or warned of winter storms, and in some parts of the country it has gotten so cold that being outside for a few minutes can cause frostbite.

According to the American Automobile Association, snowdrifts and dangerous road conditions have been reported in many areas.

The main northbound I-90 freeway has been closed in South Dakota, and state officials have already said it won’t reopen until Friday.

“Several highways are currently considered ‘impassable roads.’ It is physically impossible to drive on a stretch of road due to widespread deep snow and drifts,” the state highway department said.

According to Flightaware.com, more than 22,000 flights were delayed Thursday, 5,500 of which were canceled completely. Many flights were canceled at major airports in Chicago and Denver.

The number of holiday travel for Americans this year is expected to approach pre-pandemic levels, with the busiest day expected to be Thursday, three days before Christmas.

AccuWeather forecasters said the storm could quickly turn into a so-called cyclone bomb. The term is used when a storm intensifies significantly over a 24-hour period due to a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure and the collision of masses of warm and cold air.

The National Weather Service has warned of the possibility of snow squalls – heavy snowfalls accompanied by gale force winds – across a vast area from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States.