Canceled and delayed flights near 30,000 amid rare bomb cyclone
Brady Knox
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The number of canceled and delayed flights in the United States is nearing 30,000 amid a rare bomb cyclone that has wrought havoc on Christmas travelers.
At least 21,224 flights have been delayed, while 7,772 were canceled altogether, according to FlightAware. Perhaps the hardest-hit airline was Swoop, with 81% of all flights being canceled. Other airlines, including Southwest, Spring Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, have had over half of their flights canceled or delayed. Southwest had the most canceled and delayed flights at 2,536.
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Both Buffalo Niagara International Airport and Portland International Airport had over 60% of their flights canceled. Seattle-Tacoma International racked up the most delayed and canceled flights at 372.
Flights have been canceled or delayed in preparation for the “bomb cyclone,” a weather anomaly that can cause frostbite in minutes.
“All bomb cyclones are not hurricanes. But sometimes, they can take on characteristics that make them look an awful lot like hurricanes, with very strong winds, heavy precipitation, and well-defined eye-like features in the middle,” said University of California, Los Angeles scientist Daniel Swain, per NBC.
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The governors of New York, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia, and North Carolina have moved to declare states of emergency over the harsh weather.