A powerful "bomb cyclone" known as Winter Storm Devin has triggered widespread chaos across the United States as 2025 comes to a close. Millions of travelers are currently facing grounded flights, hazardous road conditions, and power outages as the storm moves through the Midwest and Northeast.
✈️ Air Travel: Thousands Stranded
As of December 30, air travel remains severely disrupted. Airlines including Delta, Southwest, and United have been forced to cancel or delay thousands of flights to manage the extreme conditions.
* Total Impacts: Over 10,000 flights have been delayed or canceled since the storm began on December 28.
* Worst-Hit Hubs:
* New York (JFK, LGA, EWR): High winds (up to 50 mph) and low visibility have triggered ground stops and massive delays.
* Chicago (ORD): Recovering from heavy snow but still struggling with 40 mph gusts.
* Detroit (DTW): Snow plowing and de-icing operations have caused average delays of over 70 minutes.
* Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP): Recovering from over 8 inches of snow accumulation.
🚗 Road Conditions: Ice and Pileups
The storm's combination of arctic air and freezing rain has made road travel treacherous during one of the year's busiest driving periods.
* Major Incidents: A massive 20-vehicle pileup involving three semi-trucks occurred on Interstate 75 in Detroit due to whiteout conditions.
* Regional Hazards: Freezing rain has coated parts of New England and New York with up to 0.5 inches of ice, while parts of Michigan have recorded over 2 feet of snow.
* Frigid Temperatures: Behind the storm, a "cold plunge" is dropping temperatures 20–30°F below average, with wind chills as low as -30°F in the Dakotas and Minnesota.
🌩️ Severe Weather Beyond Snow
While the north deals with blizzards, the storm's trailing cold front has sparked severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes in parts of Illinois and the central U.S. Additionally, nearly 270,000 customers lost power across the Great Lakes and Northeast due to high winds and ice weight on power lines.
Recommendations for Travelers
* Check Flight Status: Use apps like FlightAware or your airline’s mobile app before leaving for the airport.
* Fee Waivers: Most major airlines (like JetBlue and United) are offering flexible rebooking through December 30.
* Road Safety: If driving, keep an emergency kit (blankets, water, flares) in your car and check local DOT reports for highway closures.
Would you like me to look up specific airport status updates or check the road conditions for a particular highway route?
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