An unprecedented mass of arctic air is moving over the territory of the United States, leaving more than 190 million people under a weather alert and causing a national logistics crisis. The phenomenon, which has already affected more than half of the population, led to the cancellation of nearly 4,000 flights just on Saturday and has 37 states on edge, from the Rocky Mountains to New England. The National Weather Service (NWS) has classified this megastorm as "unusually extensive and long-lasting," while experts warn it could be the largest cold front ever recorded in the country's history, with wind ch plummeting below -20 degrees Celsius.
According to the Argentine News Agency, the severity of the situation has led 16 states and the capital, Washington D.C., to declare a state of emergency due to forecasted ice accumulations that could be "catastrophic." The NWS issued a direct statement through its official channels: "Take this storm seriously, friends," warning of an "amazingly long" band of snow extending from New Mexico to Maine. The impact on infrastructure is already visible, with over 130,000 users without electricity, mainly in the states of Texas and Louisiana.
In Houston, Mayor John Whitmire formally requested residents to shelter for the next 72 hours to prevent incidents due to extreme cold. Meanwhile, NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli warned about the persistence of the phenomenon, stating: "The snow and ice will take a long time to melt and won't disappear soon, which will complicate recovery efforts." Federal authorities have confirmed the preventive closure of their offices for the upcoming Monday as the weather system moves into the densely populated Mid-Atlantic region. "The effects of snow and sleet will persist well into next week," the climate agency noted, emphasizing that surfaces will remain hazardous for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic in much of the central and eastern parts of the country.
