The deadly deep freeze gripping the US has slammed flights, slammed homeless shelters, and sent energy prices soaring. At least 19 people have died as the icy blast wreaks havoc nationwide.
Thousands of Flights Scrapped and Delayed
FlightAware.com reports a staggering 5,023 flight cancellations across the US so far today. An additional 7,990 flights have been delayed. This follows nearly 2,700 cancellations on Thursday and almost 500 already cancelled for Saturday. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warned CNN the US aviation system “is operating under enormous strain” as two powerful storms batter the country with fierce winds.
Energy Crisis Hits Key US Facilities
The polar chill shut down 1.5 million barrels of refining capacity along the Gulf Coast, impacting giants like TotalEnergies, Motiva Enterprises, and Marathon Petroleum near Houston.
- ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell, and Valero Energy plants in Texas producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel also took a hit.
- Sempra Infrastructure’s Cameron LNG plant in Louisiana paused operations due to weather disruptions.
- North Dakota’s oilfields faced “freeze-ins” that cut output by up to a third — 300,000 to 350,000 barrels per day.
The energy crunch sent West Texas next-day gas surging 22% to around $9 per million British thermal units. Power prices also spiked to $3,700 per megawatt hour before falling once thermal and solar plants kicked in.
Historic Flooding Pounds Long Island
Hours of torrential rain flooded Long Island’s Island Park, submerging local roads. “Literally within 10 minutes, boom,” said resident Peter Rizik. “The water was just like a river coming down the block.” Local officials brace for a recovery from what Mayor Michael McGinty called “the worst weather event we’ve had in 10 years, without a doubt.”
