Winter storm Landon 2022 path tracker LIVE – Flight cancelations spike as storm spreads from Texas to Northeast
WINTER Storm Landon wreaked havoc across the Northeast on Friday by dumping a foot of snow and causing major traffic and electricity problems.
Winter Storm Landon spread to the Northeast after hitting the South hard with a crippling ice storm Thursday that caused over 300,000 homes and businesses from Texas to Ohio to lose power, according to The Weather Channel.
As of Friday afternoon, Tennessee is having the most power outages, while Ohio and New York also have a very concentrated amount of lost electricity, according to poweroutage.us.
The storm also started a deadly tornado in Alabama on Thursday that reportedly killed one person and critically injured three others.
Landon caused Interstate 10 in Texas to shut down, leaving hundreds of drivers stuck in traffic for hours near San Antonio.
Thousands of flights were canceled Friday, according to FlightAware, with over 1,000 flights canceled just in the Northeast region.
As of 11am Friday, over 4,000 flights in the US have been canceled due to severe snow and ice.
This could be the biggest Midwest snowfall in a century.
The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts that between eight and 14 inches of snow could fall in the region.
The storm is set to move to the sea around Friday night, but the weekend is expected to keep the remaining ice and snow because of subfreezing temperatures, according to the weather service.
Read our Winter storm Landon live blog for the latest news and updates…
- Carsen Holaday
What is a tornado warning?
A tornado warning is issued by local NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office meteorologists in an area where a tornado has been spotted.
Tornado warnings cover smaller areas, as they are only implemented in the actual case of severe weather.
A tornado warning indicates serious danger for those who are in the path of said tornado.
When one is made aware of a tornado warning, they should seek shelter immediately.
- Carsen Holaday
What is a tornado watch?
A tornado watch is typically issued hours in advance of an actual tornado. It means that weather conditions are favorable for a tornado to form, but one hasn’t been spotted yet.
The NOAA Storm Prediction Center issues a tornado watch during times when the weather conditions show a possibility of severe weather.
A tornado watch can cover part of a state or several states, depending on the severity of the weather.
One should be prepared to act while a watch is in progress, but it doesn’t always mean severe weather is coming.
- Carsen Holaday
Severe tornado damage in Alabama
In Hale County, Alabama, at least four were injured following a tornado.
Local station WVTM13 reports four were injured at a location on Highway 30, and homes along Highway 14 at Coleman Road were badly damaged.
- Carsen Holaday
Be gentle with frostbitten skin
In a video, The Weather Channel explained why you shouldn’t rub frostbitten skin to warm it up.
“Your first instinct may be to rub your hands together to cause friction, but fight the urge,” the video advised.
Tiny ice crystals on your skin may tear and rip at the soft tissue, causing more damage.
The safer way to warm up is by gradually heating your skin, ideally using warm water.
- Carsen Holaday
Drink water to stay safe
Drinking water in the winter is vital to your safety, The Weather Channel explained.
“You can still get dehydrated in the winter,” the outlet said in a video, but you’re less likely to realize it.
Dry winter air makes sweat evaporate more quickly, so you may not realize the severity of dehydration as quickly as in the summer months.
“Drink more water, especially when exercising outside,” The Weather Channel advised.
- Carsen Holaday
‘People should not let their guard down’
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service told Cleveland.com on Thursday morning that the worst snow the Northeast Ohio region could expect was still on the way.
Snow in the region is likely be in the 4 to 8-inch range on Thursday.
“We (NWS) emphasized that we would have the heaviest snow today for this storm system,” Jaszka said.
“People should not let their guard down if you do have to travel today. Give yourself extra time and leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you.”
- Carsen Holaday
New Hampshire snow
Over a foot of snow is possible in the northern part of New Hampshire on Friday as the storm is expected to bring a wintry mix to the southern parts, according to WMUR weather reports.
Winter storm warnings are in effect for most of the state.
The storm is projected to clear on Friday night, bringing a freezing but dry weekend.
- H. J. Hayes
Alabama sees tornado damage
On Twitter, users in and around Hale County, AL shared photos of destruction wrought by tornadoes.
Trees, buildings, vehicles and utility lines were damaged and displaced by the storm.
- H. J. Hayes
DFW Airport struggles to clear runways
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas is open, but operations teams worked to clear the runways and treat them for snow and ice, CBS DFW reported on Thursday.
On Thursday 75% of flights taking off or landing at the airport were canceled.
- H. J. Hayes
Thousands of flights canceled Thursday
On Thursday, 5,220 flights in the US were canceled.
At Dallas-Forth Worth, 734 flights, or 75% of Thursday's total flights, were canceled.
Friday already sees 2,184 flights canceled, most through Boston, MA or Newark, NJ.
- H. J. Hayes
Where will Winter Storm Landon hit?
Winter Storm Landon is expected to primarily impact the southeast and midwest.
Rain and thunderstorms should cover most of the south.
Texas will receive snow and freezing rain.
Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Detroit are all expected to see some snowfall.
- H. J. Hayes
Winter storm names
These are the names the Weather Channel chose for winter storms during the 2021 to 2022 season:
- Atticus
- Bankston
- Carrie
- Delphine
- Elmer
- Frida
- Garrett
- Hatcher
- Izzy
- Jasper
- Kenan
- Landon
- Miles
- Nancy
- Oaklee
- Phyllis
- Quinlan
- Rachel
- Silas
- Tad
- Usher
- Vega
- Willow
- Xandy
- Yeager
- Zion
Who names winter storms?
The Weather Channel names winter storms.
The outlet noted that the 2021-22 season is the 10th season The Weather Channel will be naming winter storms.
Preparing your car for a storm, continued
If you have any chargers, purses, garage openers, or keys in your car, you will want to take them out.
Finally, lock your vehicle. This seems simple, but it is easily forgotten.
You will be away from your vehicle for an extended period, so it doesn’t hurt to double-check that you have locked it.
Prepare your car for storm conditions
Winter storms can last for days, and it’s never good to leave a car dirty for an extended period of time.
Acidic material could eat away at your paint, and car covers could rub dirt around the clearcoat and make scratches.
When you know a storm is coming, it is a good idea to run your vehicle through the car wash quickly.
After you have washed your vehicle, collect any belongings that you might need over the next few days out of your car.
- H. J. Hayes
What makes a storm a blizzard?
Not every storm is considered to be a blizzard.
There are three conditions that must be met for a storm to be considered a blizzard.
Snow must combine with winds over 35 miles per hour.
On top of that, visibility must be less than a quarter-mile.
These conditions must last for more than three hours.
- H. J. Hayes
What is a winter weather advisory?
A winter weather advisory is an indication that winter weather conditions are likely.
However, the conditions expected are not severe enough to warrant a warning.
- H. J. Hayes
What is a winter weather watch?
A winter weather watch indicates that there is potential for severe winter weather.
If a winter weather watch is issued, prepare for dangerous weather conditions.
- H. J. Hayes
What is a winter weather warning?
A winter weather warning indicates that a storm is more than likely in your area, and you should take action immediately.
Expect dangerous conditions and try to avoid travel.
- H. J. Hayes
Winter storm deaths in 2020
According to Statista, six lives were claimed in 2020 from winter storms.
More people died that year from extreme cold, as 13 lives were lost.
- H. J. Hayes
How winter storms cause deaths
Most who die from winter storms are not killed by the weather itself.
A majority of the deaths are traffic accidents on icy roads.
Some also die from heart attacks while shoveling snow, and hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold weather.
- H. J. Hayes
Last year’s storms were deadly in Texas
The winter storms in Texas in 2021 proved very deadly for residents there.
A Department of State Health Services report on the freezing temperatures last year found that 246 deaths were caused, which spanned 77 counties, and those who died ranged from under 1-year-old to 102 years old.
Nearly two-thirds of the deaths were due to hyperthermia, the Texas Tribune reported.
- H. J. Hayes
Don’t seek refuge in your car
Even though it may function as a temporary shelter from a winter storm, you should avoid waiting out winter conditions in your car.
“Sheltering in a trapped vehicle can be dangerous,” experts at The Weather Channel explained.
A car’s metal frame creates “a very frigid situation,” and regulating temperature inside the car can be tricky.
Running your engine may not be a safe solution, either.
“Only do so if you know that you can keep the exhaust pipe clear,” The Weather Channel’s winter safety video explains.
“Snow and slush buildup around the pipe can block the exhaust and cause carbon monoxide poisoning.”
- H. J. Hayes
Why should you warm up slowly?
Even though it’s tempting to hop into a hot bath, sauna or jacuzzi after coming in from the cold, you may be putting yourself at risk.
“Exposure to intense heat is not a way to treat hypothermia,” The Weather Channel warned.
“If you soak in a jacuzzi it can be very painful for your skin, and even cause a heart attack.”
Try heating up after extreme cold exposure by applying warm washcloths to the body, or using strategically-placed hot water bottles.
- H. J. Hayes
Swap alcohol for hot chocolate
“Alcohol doesn’t actually make you warm,” The Weather Channel noted in a video.
“It can cause you to feel warm by moving blood to the top of the skin, but taking that heat away from your core can be dangerous,” the experts at the channel explained.
Swap your alcoholic beverage for hot chocolate, which has more calories–essential for keeping your body healthy in chilly conditions–and will help raise your body temperature.
Source: Read Full Article