20-minute drive turns into 7-hour nightmare for stranded traveler after winter storm wreaks havoc across US
AP/Rick Bowmer
- Thousands of flights were canceled in the US this week, stranding travelers at airports across the country.
- For one Oregon resident, a 20-minute drive took seven hours.
- Parts of Southern California remain under a blizzard warning for the first time in decades
Thousands were left stranded this week as a winter storm wreaked havoc across the US, cutting power to millions and canceling thousands of flights.
The storm led to more than 1,700 canceled flights on Wednesday and an additional 1,100 on Thursday, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. The mass cancellations and delays prompted travel nightmares across the country, turning basic trips into hellish ordeals for many travelers.
Alahn Ek, who lives just outside of Portland, Oregon, told Oregon Live a 20-minute drive to her friend's house wound up taking seven hours in heavy snow and standstill traffic.
"It was like I blinked" and suddenly the snow was falling, she told Oregon Live.
Hannah Schaferm a spokesperson for the Portland Bureau of Transportation, told Oregon Live the city is equipped for winter weather, but not in the face of a storm like the one that came this week.
"We were prepared for the weather, but we weren't prepared for an inch of snow falling an hour, and I don't think anyone in the city was," Schafer told the outlet.
Stories like Ek's were mirrored across the country this week, amid widespread cancellations and inclement weather that caused more than a million to lose power.
"Welp. Stuck at dallas airport for 5+ hours for a flight that'll probably wind up cancelled like 3 of my other flights today," Twitch streamer Scott Falco wrote on Twitter.
—ScottFalco (@ScottFalco) February 22, 2023
—Michael Steinberg (@MichaelWX18) February 23, 2023
The storm has stretched far beyond the wintry northern regions of the US. Parts of Southern California are under a blizzard warning for the first time in decades — including Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties for the first time since 1989, CBS News reported.
Meanwhile, San Diego received its first-ever blizzard warning, with officials warning that San Bernardino County could receive up for five feet of snow by Saturday, per CNN.
—Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) February 20, 2023
As parts of the country continue to experience severe weather, officials across the US are warning travelers to remain vigilant.
"Snow & freezing rain are creating hazardous road conditions in parts of the state," New York Gov. Cathy Hochul tweeted Thursday. "Check local forecasts, take it slow if you're driving, & be prepared."
—Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 23, 2023
"This intense blast of winter severely impacted our communities across the state," Michigan's Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Capt. Kevin Sweeney said in a press release. "We are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the public health and safety of Michigan citizens."