Live

Russia's war in
Ukraine

Arctic blast threatens holiday travel 02:02

L I V E U P DAT E S

Winter storm and severe cold sweeps across the US

By Aya Elamroussi, Travis Caldwell, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt, Leinz Vales and Matt Meyer, CNN

Updated 4:54 p.m. ET, December 22, 2022

All Catch Up Forecast Guides Travel

61 Posts SORT BY Latest

6 min ago

New York governor declares state of emergency

CNN's Rob Frehse

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and issued a tra c ban on part of Interstate 90 that begins Friday at 6
a.m. due to the incoming storm's expected brutality.

On Thursday, Hochul highlighted the quick changes in temperature and dangerous commute New Yorkers will face, adding that
there will be a "full tra c ban on the 1-90 from Exit 56 to the Pennsylvania line" beginning tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. as well.

“The vacillation in weather, it’s going to be dropping drastically, over 35 degrees in some parts of our state, extremely low wind
chills and we’ll have standing water and snow and dangerous road conditions,” Hochul said at a press conference. 

She also said New Yorkers should expect blizzard conditions and 1 to 3 feet of snow in some parts of the state.

The governor pointed to the importance of the state’s storm response, including the 2,000 snowplows being deployed, 24-7
operation centers established and the 7,500 prepositioned utility workers across the state.

"Even before the first limb falls, we’re ready to handle this, so we’re preparing for that,” Hochul said.

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
17 min ago

Blizzard conditions are possible for multiple days in Buffalo, according to National Weather
Service
A blizzard warning will take e ect at 7 a.m. ET Friday for Bu alo, New York, and surrounding communities, where feet of snow and 70
mph wind gusts are likely, according to the National Weather Service.

The combination of the snow associated with the bomb cyclone, very heavy lake-e ect snow and the high winds will lead to the
deteriorating conditions. 

“Travel will be extremely di cult to impossible at times,” the weather service said. 

Snowfall totals of 1 to 3 feet are expected in the city and snowbelts south of the city. The blizzard conditions are possible for multiple
days. 

“Very strong winds are expected to continue Friday night and Saturday with wind-driven heavy lake e ect snows northeast of the
Lakes. Heavy lake snows will last through at least Christmas Day, possibly lingering into the first part of next week,” the weather
service said.

45 min ago

Extreme wind and flash-freezing conditions expected to wreak havoc across Ohio
throughout Christmas weekend 
From CNN’s Hannah Sarisohn 

Ohio will face a “unique and dangerous” situation throughout Christmas weekend as flash freezing conditions will start Thursday
night and continue early Friday morning, Gov. Mike DeWine said.  

“We do face a crisis today,” DeWine said at a storm safety news briefing Thursday afternoon. “This is going to impact all the citizens
of Ohio. Every county, from one end of the state to the other.” 

DeWine said extreme temperatures will be close to zero Thursday night, adding that the entire state will be hit with flash freezing
conditions by 4 a.m. ET Friday. 

“When Ohioans get up tomorrow morning, the roads are going to be very, very dangerous and very, very di cult, DeWine said.
“Flash freezing will occur very quickly. Roads will become dangerous very quickly. The obvious recommendation to everyone is to
stay home. There is significant danger that could come from driving o the road.” 

DeWine acknowledged that people are expecting to travel over the Christmas holiday to be with loved ones, but he urged the public
to be careful. 

“Understand these are unique circumstances, DeWine said. "We all have an urge to be with family and friends, but use common
sense."

Ohio Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Sima Merick said she’s not only concerned about flash freezing, but also
falling temperatures and extreme wind chills, which are expected to last through Christmas Day. 

Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks said 3,000 people and 1,600 snowplows are ready to work in 12-hour
shifts until the storm is over.  

29 min ago

Cold, wind, ice and snow: Here's what you need to know about the winter storm

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
A Chicago Transit Authority train arrives at the Roosevelt train station in Chicago on December 22. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)

A winter storm crossing the US is causing treacherous conditions on roadways, extensive flight delays and drastic temperature
drops. Here's the latest:

Travel hazards: O cials in many states have urged residents to stay o the roads or exercise caution in the face of extreme weather.

▪ Interstate 90 between South Dakota's largest cities has been closed due to "blizzard-like conditions" and stuck or stranded
vehicles, according to the state's Department of Transportation.

▪ Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said that residents can expect roads to be dangerous to travel on, with ice and strong wind gusts
expected.

Flight delays and cancellations: During a busy holiday travel week, airlines have canceled over 2,100 US flights as of 3:30 p.m. ET
on Thursday and proactively canceled more than 1,000 flights on Friday, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware. There are
more than 5,700 delays across the US on Thursday as of 3:30 p.m. ET.

Bone-chilling cold and wind: Wind chill alerts now cover around 150 million Americans, or nearly half of the US population,
according to a data analysis from the CNN Weather team.

Casper, Wyoming set a record low of -42 degrees Thursday morning. A record-low temperature of -20 degrees was registered for
Pullman, Washington, which was 44 degrees below its average low of 24 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in
Spokane. 

Meanwhile, much of northern Florida is under a wind chill advisory, while central Florida is under a freeze watch and hard freeze
watch.

Crown Point on the Oregon coast is experiencing very strong wind gusts, with the National Weather Service in Portland saying a gust
of 86 mph caused a corresponding wind chill of -14 degrees. The weather service said it "would not be surprised" to record a gust of
up to 100 mph.

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
"Not our typical storm": Bu alo, New York — which is no stranger to snow — has declared a state of emergency as it anticipates
the storm. A blizzard warning will go into e ect at 7 a.m. Friday.

Forecasters anticipate strong, steady winds with gusts of up to 70 mph. One to 3 feet of snow is expected in the city of Bu alo and
the favored snow belts south of the city, according to the weather service. Blizzard conditions could last several days, making travel
extremely di cult or impossible at times.

1 hr 13 min ago

Nearly half of the US population is now under wind chill alerts

From CNN's Dave Hennen

Wind chill alerts stretch from coast to coast and cover around 150 million Americans, or nearly half of the US population, according
to a data analysis from the CNN Weather Team. All but just a handful of states in the US are impacted by the alerts that stretch
continuously from the US/Canadian border to the US/Mexican border.

Wind chills overnight dropped 70 degrees below zero in parts of Montana and Wyoming — a number rarely seen in the US. Current
wind chills are between 40 to 50 degrees below zero through much of the Northern Plains and are below zero as far south as Dallas
and much of north Texas. 

The amount of the population impacted will likely grow even higher as the Arctic front moves through the East tomorrow.
Plummeting temperatures and dangerous wind chills are likely to continue through Christmas Eve and Christmas day across the
eastern two-thirds of the country.

1 hr 29 min ago

Wisconsin governor declares energy emergency due to winter weather conditions

From CNN's Raja Razek

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order Thursday declaring an energy emergency in the state due to winter weather
conditions, according to a news release from the governor's o ce.  

"Due to the below-average temperatures, accumulating and blowing snow throughout the state, deliveries of liquid fuels for home
heating shipped by truck, barge, and particularly rail, are limited," the release read. "Additionally, since Wisconsin had several
weather-related power outages recently, and more could occur from this weather event due to downed trees and ice on lines,
eliminating barriers for energy emergency responders is essential, especially for out-of-state line workers."

In the event of power outages, the order would allow for swift delivery of fuel products and streamlined restoration e orts, according
to the release. 

"According to the Public Service Commission’s O ce of Energy Innovation, multiple liquid fuel terminals across the state have
reported limited product supplies for distribution, and utilities indicated the potential for mutual aid response from out of state,"
the release read. 

1 hr 47 min ago

Winter weather causing major disruptions to holiday travel at US airports as flight

cancellations top 2,000
From CNN's Greg Wallace, Paul P. Murphy and Carol Alvarado 

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
Crews de-ice a Southwest Airlines plane before takeo in Omaha, Nebraska, on December 21. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald/AP)

Snow, rain, ice, wind and frigid temperatures are disrupting air travel plans across the country.

Airlines canceled over 2,100 US flights by 3 p.m. ET on Thursday and proactively canceled more than 1,000 flights on Friday,
according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.

Delays were even more extensive, with more than 5,500 on Thursday as of 3 p.m. ET.

The impact is felt hardest in Chicago and Denver, where around a quarter of arrivals and departures – hundreds of flights at each
airport – were canceled on Thursday, FlightAware data show.

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
Travelers wait to check in for their flights at Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport on December 22. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio/AP)

At Chicago’s O’Hare, snow and ice is causing delays averaging 159 minutes — almost three hours — according to a notice from the
Federal Aviation Administration.   

Temperatures at the airport are nearing freezing as the storm is beginning to settle into the greater Chicago area.

The FAA said departing aircraft at Dallas Love, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and Minneapolis airports require a spraying of de-icing fluid
for safe travel.

In the busy New York area, the FAA warned Newark flights should expect delays due to visibility issues.

The region’s three main airports are all warning travelers that today's rain and the incoming winter weather front may disrupt their
travels.

For those whose flights are still scheduled to fly, the Transportation Security Administration is recommending that passengers arrive
at the airport earlier than usual. 

Reagan National Airport’s TSA Federal Security Director John Busch told reporters that all airports “expect to be busier this holiday
season than we've been in several years coming out of the pandemic. We've already seen some of our busiest days, yesterday and
today and we expect maybe Friday (the) 30th ahead of the New Year's holiday can be also a very busy day.”

But Busch added TSA is “very well prepared to handle additional volume and throughput for our security checkpoints.”

2 hr 1 min ago

More than 1,000 Friday flights are already canceled

From CNN's Greg Wallace

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
A departures board marks a flight cancelled ahead of a winter storm at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on Thursday, December 22. (Matthew
Hatcher/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Flight cancellations are racking up quickly for tomorrow. 

Airlines have canceled more than 1,000 US flights scheduled for Friday, according to FlightAware. Thursday’s cancellation figure is
approaching 2,000 as of 2:45 p.m. ET.

Thursday cancellations were highest at the Chicago and Denver airports, according to the FlightAware data.

Friday’s cancellations are currently highest in Detroit, followed by New York’s LaGuardia Airport as the storm impacts move east. 

More than 5,300 flights have been delayed on Thursday, according to FlightAware data. 

2 hr 13 min ago

A guide to stay safe and warm through the winter storm

From CNN's Jacqueline Howard

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
Motorists drive through snow in North Liberty, Iowa, on December 22. (Joseph Cress /Iowa City Press-Citizen/AP)

When winter storms force us to brace for freezing rain, wind, sleet and snow, lives can be in danger. Here are some steps you can
take to keep yourself and others safe when extreme cold strikes.

When staying indoors: During cold temperatures or a winter storm, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention o ers
these tips.

▪ Make sure any infants younger than 1 year old are not sleeping in cold rooms and have adequate warm clothing, such as footed
pajamas, one-piece wearable blankets or sleep sacks. Remove any pillows or other soft bedding from a baby’s crib, since they
pose the risk of smothering or sudden infant death syndrome.

▪ If you have friends or neighbors older than 65, check on them frequently to ensure that their homes are adequately heated.

▪ Leave water taps slightly open to prevent freezing pipes.

▪ Eat well-balanced meals to stay warm.

▪ Avoid alcohol and ca eine, because they can cause your body to lose heat more rapidly.

“Never using generators, gas or charcoal grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside your home, in basements, in garages, or near
windows,” the CDC says. “The fumes are deadly.”

Using the stove for heat is not safe, the CDC warns; instead, use extra blankets, sleeping bags or coats. A well-maintained fireplace
or a portable space heater may be a safe alternative.

When venturing outdoors: The CDC and National Weather Service have some recommendations:

▪ Dress warmly with hats, scarves and mittens and by wearing layers.

▪ Avoid walking on ice and avoid getting wet.

▪ If you have to shovel snow or do other outdoor work, take your time and work slowly. If you have older neighbors, o er to help
shovel their walkways or driveways.

▪ Avoid traveling on ice-covered roads if possible.

▪ If you are stranded outdoors, it is safest to stay in your vehicle.

▪ Try to keep pets indoors during cold weather, but if they go outside, thoroughly wipe their legs and underbelly free of snow when
returning indoors. Never let your dog o leash on snow or ice.

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
Other things to remember: An important risk-reducing measure hinges on wardrobe.

▪ Dress in layers: Put on more than one pair of gloves and then a mitten on top of that. The layers trap air and keep you warm.

▪ Avoid tight-fitting clothes

▪ If you get wet, take o wet clothes. They make things colder. Boots should be waterproof.

▪ Avoid too many cocktails in cold weather. It impairs mental awareness, limiting your ability to recognize symptoms of significant
cold exposure. Alcohol also causes blood vessels to dilate, increasing heat loss.

CNN’s Dave Hennen and Jamie Gumbrecht contributed to this report.

2 hr 24 min ago

Interstate closed between South Dakota's biggest cities

From CNN's Rebekah Riess

Interstate 90 is now closed from Rapid City to Sioux Falls in South Dakota due to sustained high winds causing “blizzard-like
conditions,” according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

“In addition to blizzard-like conditions, many stuck and stranded vehicles are blocking lanes of tra c. O cials will continually assess
when I-90 can be reopened safely,” SDDOT said.

45 min ago

Governor tells Kentuckians to expect "treacherous" roads and urges drivers to stay home
From CNN’s Caroll Alvarado

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during a press conference in Frankfort, Kentucky, on November 15. (Timothy D. Easley/AP)

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear urged Kentuckians to stay o the roads Thursday as the state is expected to get hit with severe winter
weather.

“We are urging Kentuckians to stay o the roads starting Thursday afternoon. If you are an essential worker and must travel, please
follow these safety tips and have a vehicle kit in your car,” Beshear said on Twitter.

During a press conference on Thursday, Beshear added that residents can expect the roads to be “treacherous.”

“You can have very little visibility and we can get to a point where the salt, even with all the extra stu we do to it, won’t work to
prevent ice, if we have certain conditions out there.” Beshear said. “So, everybody expects the roads to be treacherous tonight
through tomorrow.”

Kentuckians across the state can expect 1 to 3 inches of snow, but it’s also the wind chills and wind gusts residents should be
concerned about, Beshear said.

“The wind chills starting tonight and through Friday afternoon are going to be very dangerous,” Beshear said. “It’s going to be really
cold. It’s not going to get above freezing until probably like Tuesday.”

In addition to staying o the roads, Beshear urged residents to check on senior citizens or loved ones who may not have adequate
heating systems in their homes.

“We’re taking this very seriously,” Beshear said. “We’ve been through a lot in these last 3 years. We have lost 17,400 plus people in a
pandemic, now 44 from flooding, 81 from tornado, I don’t want to lose one person due to this cold.”

The Kentucky National Guard has prepositioned resources and is ready to assist with rescues, if needed, Beshear said. 

3 hr ago

"This is not our typical storm," Buffalo mayor warns as state of emergency is announced
From CNN’s Hannah Sarisohn 

A state of emergency for the city of Bu alo will go into e ect at 7 a.m. ET on Friday, Mayor Byron Brown said Thursday during a news
conference with emergency management o cials. 

According to Brown, conditions will deteriorate quickly on Friday. 

“We will see a flash freeze in the morning followed by a rapid drop in temperature, a cold front, and the start of extremely challenging
weather,” Brown said. “Strong and steady winds of up to 60 miles per hour are expected. Heavy lake-e ect snow will develop in
parts of the city with areas of blowing and drifting snow and white out conditions, and the potential for power outages.” 

Brown also said residents should brace for lakeshore flooding. 

“As Bu alo residents, we are used to winter weather and often take it in stride. But forecasters say this is not our typical storm. So
please don’t expect 4 to 5 inches and be complaining about driving and plowing,” Brown said. “This is not going to be a typical
storm; in fact, this could be a life-threatening storm.” 

Brown encouraged residents to finish holiday and grocery shopping before the end of the day Thursday. 

“This is a very significant storm, a di erent kind of storm than last time,” Public Works Commissioner Nate Martin said. “Conditions
themselves will be dangerous for all individuals. Please do not be on the roads if you don’t need to.” 

Friday’s garbage and recycling collection is canceled, Martin said, as visibility will be extremely di cult. 

Brown said there is great potential of downed trees and power lines throughout the storm. 

David Bertola, a spokesperson for National Grid utility company, said about 2,800 crew members from across the country are
expected to deploy to Bu alo and western New York. 

“This weekend is our game day and we’re ready,” Bertola said. 

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com
3 hr 7 min ago

Coast Guard warns migrants attempting to travel to US about potentially life-threatening

winter conditions
From CNN's Michelle Watson

The United States Coast Guard is warning migrant vessels attempting to enter the US during the nationwide cold front that it's
"unpredictable" and dangerous to do so, according to a Thursday news release from the agency.   

"Winter weather is unpredictable in the Florida Straits," said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Cobb, Coast Guard 7th District, according to the release.
"It can result in these unsafe, rustic vessels capsizing and people losing their lives." 

The US Coast Guard 7th District Southeast "repatriated 67 Cubans to Cuba, Thursday, following interdictions o Florida's coast," it
said, adding that the migrants were found Monday and Tuesday.  

On Monday, one boat of migrants was found around 9:40 a.m. local time, "about 20 miles north of Cay Sal Bank, Bahamas," the
release said, while another boat of migrants were found, "about 50 miles south of Marathon." 

On Tuesday, some migrants were found in "capsized migrant vessel … about 40 miles south of Boot Key," the release said, while
another boat of migrants were found, "about 35 miles south of Marquesas Key." 

A third boat was found Tuesday evening, "about 20 miles south of Key West," the release said.  

3 hr 14 min ago

Wind causes blowing snow and below-freezing temperatures in Kansas

Form CNN's David Williams

Cody Chitwood experienced blowing snow, limited visibility and frigid temperatures in El Dorado, Kansas, which is about 35 miles
northeast of Wichita.

He told CNN that at 11:13 a.m. CT, the temperature was -4 degrees with a wind chill of -32. 

“The snow has ended, so it's not nearly that bad. The wind is kicking up snow, but the visibility isn't an issue at the moment,” he
said.

He shot the video below at about 9:10 a.m. CT (10:10 a.m. ET) on Thursday.

Chitwood is at work, about 40 miles from home, so he hopes that conditions are OK in a few hours when he gets o . 

“Once home, I'm staying unless something comes up,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Wichita, snow can be seen blowing down a street in the downtown area.

Convert web pages and HTML files to PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API Printed with Pdfcrowd.com