The weather is chaotic: more than 1,000 flights were canceled after the winter storm began in the south.
Winter storm and weather warnings extended from Texas to New York on Tuesday as snow, sleet, and freezing rain roiled air traffic and wreaked havoc on roads.
More than 50 million Americans were under a wintry weather warning or watched on Tuesday, including 18 million under a wind chill warning.
Nearly 3,000 flights in, in, or out of the United States were delayed or canceled before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. In Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field issued ground stops Tuesday morning due to snow and ice. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth said a group of storms and sleet were moving over the area.
"Expect continued deterioration of road conditions," the Fort Worth office said in a tweet. "It is advised not to be on the roads today. If possible, please stay at home. It's chaotic out there."
Other airport developments:
► In New York, LaGuardia Airport issued a short ground stop early Tuesday due to icy weather conditions that caused "flight disruptions." The planes started flying again, and the average delay was about an hour. Travelers are advised to check with airlines to determine the status of flights.
► In North Carolina, Charlotte Douglas International Airport has issued a ground stop due to fog and poor visibility.
► In Kentucky, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport was closed briefly due to weather conditions.
Winter storm warnings hit Texas and extended east.
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth said a winter storm warning is in effect for north Texas and west-central Texas through Wednesday afternoon. The area was mostly expecting freezing rain and sleet. The Austin metro area was also under a winter storm warning through Wednesday. Officials cautioned against any non-emergency travel and said power outages are possible.
The Memphis Weather Service said an ice storm warning that affected Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee through Wednesday afternoon was expected to result in ice accumulations of a quarter to a half inch.
Travel in these areas is also not recommended, and power outages and tree damage are likely to be caused by the icy conditions. Portions of eastern Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and western Tennessee were under an ice storm warning, and officials warned against travel in hazardous conditions.
Treacherous road conditions in Nashville, Memphis
Much of Tennessee is facing ice and sleet, the National Weather Service warned. Nashville schools delayed their opening two hours late on January 31 due to potentially hazardous road conditions when buses are on the road.
"The roads and bridges/bridges are very slippery. Please use extreme caution," the Memphis office wrote on Twitter. "If you don't have to go out, please stay home. Incidents have been reported across the region."
Wind warnings, wind chills as low as minus 35 degrees
Farther north, wind warnings were in effect in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and other states across the Midwest and Plains through Tuesday morning. Wind chills dropped to minus 35 degrees in places. The National Weather Service warned that dangerous temperatures can "cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes."
Similar warnings extended to:
Colorado
Iowa
Kansas
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
North Dakota
South Dakota
Warmer temperatures are expected in parts of Wisconsin on Wednesday and Thursday, the Appleton Post-Crescent, part of the USA TODAY Network, reports. However, wind chills are expected to drop to minus 20 on Friday.
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