December 23, 2022 winter storm news

By Aya Elamroussi, Derrick Hinds, Travis Caldwell, Aditi Sangal, Leinz Vales, Adrienne Vogt, Matt Meyer and Tori B. Powell CNN

Updated 1:24 a.m. ET, December 24, 2022
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2:41 a.m. ET, December 23, 2022

Here's what you should know about the severe cold weather impacting millions of Americans

Vehicles travel along Interstate 44 on Thursday, December 22, in St. Louis.
Vehicles travel along Interstate 44 on Thursday, December 22, in St. Louis. (Jeff Roberson/AP)

Governors in more than a dozen states have enacted emergency measures and cold weather protocols as severe winter weather impacts much of the US.

Wind chill alerts cover more than half the country's population as the sprawling winter storm brings snow, wind, ice and frigid temperatures.

Meanwhile, thousands of US flights have been canceled so far during a busy holiday travel week.

Here are the latest developments:

  • Winter storm’s impact on air travel: Flight delays and cancellations became more widespread as the day went on and the massive storm with the potential to become a “bomb cyclone” trucked east, derailing holiday travel in large Northeast cities. The Federal Aviation Administration delayed flights at Washington’s Reagan National Airport, at Philadelphia International Airport, and at both Newark and John F. Kennedy airports in the New York metro area. About 2,500 flights were canceled across the country Thursday, and at least 2,700 are already canceled for Friday.
  • Blizzard conditions could last multiple days in Buffalo: A blizzard warning will take effect at 7 a.m. ET Friday for Buffalo, New York, and surrounding communities. Feet of snow and 70 mph wind gusts are likely, according to the National Weather Service. The combination of the snow associated with a potential bomb cyclone, very heavy lake-effect snow and the high winds will lead to deteriorating conditions. “Travel will be extremely difficult to impossible at times,” the weather service said
  • Extreme wind and flash freezing expected to wreak havoc in Ohio: Ohio will face a “unique and dangerous” situation throughout Christmas weekend, with flash freezing conditions lasting through this morning, Gov. Mike DeWine said. DeWine said the entire state will be hit with flash freezing by 4 a.m. ET Friday. 
  • Record lows in the West: Two locations in Wyoming set records early Thursday for the lowest temperatures ever recorded at a particular location, regardless of the date on the calendar. Those new records are minus 41 degrees in Casper and minus 29 in Riverton. Record daily lows for December 22 included several places in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and Washington state.
1:37 a.m. ET, December 23, 2022

Hundreds of miles of interstate in the Dakotas and Minnesota are closed due to weather

From CNN's Amanda Watts and Raja Razek

More than 500 miles of South Dakota’s two interstates are closed and expected to remain shut down into Friday, according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

"Due to the sustained strong winds causing near zero visibility and drifting snow, SDDOT anticipates that both I-29 and I-90 will remain closed through the night and into Friday, Dec. 23, 2022," the release read. "Officials will continually assess conditions to determine when I-90 and I-29 can be reopened safely."

"Significantly reduced visibilities and blizzard-like conditions, along with extreme wind chills, make travel very dangerous," the department added.

Gov. Kristi Noem declared a state of emergency in South Dakota due to severe weather and has activated the state National Guard.

Meanwhile, Interstate 94 in North Dakota is closed in the western two-thirds of the state, and travel is not advised in the east along I-94 or I-29.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation said, "Portions of I-94, US 52, US 281, and ND 46 remain closed due to blowing and drifting snow, areas of near-zero visibility and icy conditions. A No Travel Advised has been extended to eastern ND."

Interstate 90 in Minnesota is closed from I-35 to the South Dakota border, and travel is not advised on any roads in the southwest quarter of the state.

In a tweet Wednesday night, the Minnesota Department of Transportation said bluntly: "STAY HOME. DO NOT TRAVEL. Most state highways in southcentral & southwest MN are now CLOSED. Conditions could be life-threatening if you become stranded."
5:04 a.m. ET, December 23, 2022

Friday flight cancellations top 2,900, disrupting holiday travel

From CNN's Forrest Brown and Karla Cripps

Winter weather continues to disrupt holiday travel across the US on Friday, leaving travelers facing delays and cancellations during one of the busiest times of the year.

After 2,544 flight cancellations in the US on Thursday, another 2,900 Friday flights have already been canceled as of 2:30 a.m. ET, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.

Train and bus services are also being impacted by winter storms, including Amtrak and Greyhound.

Read more about Friday travel cancellations here.

2:39 a.m. ET, December 23, 2022

Power outages in southern and central US leave thousands in the dark as cold air rushes in

From CNN's Robert Shackelford

More than 150,000 customers are without power across parts of the Southeast and Central US as cold air and high winds sweep through the area, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us. Power outages are expected to rise as restoring power will be difficult in the dangerous conditions.

Among the current outages reported as of 2:30 a.m. ET Friday:

Texas: 82,217

Georgia: 45,494

Tennessee: 35,401

Missouri: 17,752

Louisiana: 15,354

Alabama: 13,684

Mississippi: 11,756

4:57 a.m. ET, December 23, 2022

More cities see plunging temperatures as arctic air spreads south and east

From CNN's Robert Shackelford

A commuter sits on a city bus as temperatures drop in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday.
A commuter sits on a city bus as temperatures drop in Chicago, Illinois on Thursday. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

More cities are experiencing rapidly dropping temperatures as arctic air that blasted much of the Western US and Great Plains this week heads east.

Temperatures will continue to drop as the night progresses: 

Chicago: Over 11 hours Wednesday, Chicago's temperature dropped 38 degrees -- in terms of wind chill, a drop of 53 degrees, from 27 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 26.

St. Louis: Over 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday night, St. Louis' temperature dropped 44 degrees -- in terms of wind chill, a drop of 61 degrees, from 31 to minus 30.

Memphis: Over 6 hours Wednesday afternoon and night, Memphis' temperature dropped 36 degrees -- in terms of wind chill, a drop of 54 degrees, from 40 to minus 14.

Nashville: In just two hours Wednesday night, Nashville's temperature dropped 29 degrees -- in terms of wind chill, a drop of 41 degrees, from 39 to minus 2.

Dallas: Over 9 hours Wednesday, Dallas' temperature dropped 31 degrees -- in terms of wind chill, a drop of 44 degrees, from 40 to minus 4.

Little Rock, Arkansas: Over 9 hours Wednesday afternoon and night, Little Rock's temperature dropped 36 degrees -- in terms of wind chill, a drop of 52 degrees, from 41 to minus 11.

Indianapolis: Over 9 hours Wednesday afternoon into Thursday, Indianapolis' temperature dropped 43 degrees -- in terms of wind chill, a drop of 64 degrees, from 36 to minus 28.

12:50 a.m. ET, December 23, 2022

Road conditions deteriorate overnight in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee

From CNN's Amanda Jackson and Tina Burnside

Authorities in Kentucky and Tennessee say severe winter weather moving across parts of the Midwest and South late Thursday has severely affected road conditions.

The ability to drive in Bardstown, Kentucky -- about 30 miles south of Louisville -- is quickly deteriorating, according to videos shared by the Bardstown Police Department Thursday night.

“The lines in the roadway were visible,” an officer says in one video. “They are now completely covered in snow.”

Police advise residents to stay home and off the roads as "conditions are getting worse by the minute," according to the video.

In Memphis, police are under an "inclement weather crash policy" and are unable to respond to every traffic accident reported due to icy, cold conditions.

Drivers in auto accidents are asked to exchange information with others involved and to report the accident to authorities within five days, according to a statement from the Memphis Police Department late Thursday.

12:47 a.m. ET, December 23, 2022

Airlines issue travel waivers ahead of winter storm

From CNN's Marnie Hunter and Forrest Brown

Travelers wait in line to check-in for their flights at the United Airlines Terminal 1 ahead of the Christmas Holiday at O'Hare International Airport on December 22, in Chicago.
Travelers wait in line to check-in for their flights at the United Airlines Terminal 1 ahead of the Christmas Holiday at O'Hare International Airport on December 22, in Chicago. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images)

US airlines have issued travel waivers due to the severe winter weather affecting much of the country. The important aviation hub of Chicago is forecast to be one of the cities hit the hardest, with blizzard conditions expected.

Here's what airlines are doing to account for the winter weather:

12:21 a.m. ET, December 23, 2022

How governors across the country are responding to the storm

From CNN's Amanda Watts

As severe winter weather marches across US states, here's a look at how some governors are responding to the storm:

  • Colorado Gov. Jared Polis activated over 100 National Guard members to support “extreme cold weather operations” across the state, according to a news release.
  • Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Tuesday that the state will activate its severe cold weather protocol in response to potentially below-zero wind chills over the holiday weekend, according to a news release. The protocol will begin Friday evening and remain in effect through next Monday at noon.
  • Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency due to "historic low temperatures," forecast this week, the governor said during a news conference Wednesday.  
  • Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency Wednesday before extremely cold temperatures reached the commonwealth, according to a news release.
  • Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Wednesday that the state has activated emergency response operations ahead of the winter storm. 
  • Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order Tuesday to activate the state's Emergency Operations Plan to prepare for the extreme cold. The declaration will “ensure state resources are available and National Guard members are on standby for any needed response efforts across the state,” his statement said.
  • New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency beginning at 6 a.m. Friday due to the expected brutality of the incoming storm. 
  • North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed a state of emergency Tuesday to activate the state’s emergency operations plan before icy conditions hit the western part of the state, the governor's office said. The move will also “waive transportation regulations to help the transport of fuel and critical supplies, help first responders and protect consumers from price gouging,” a statement read.
  • Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency Wednesday for all 77 counties ahead of the approaching storm. The state of emergency temporarily suspends certain requirements for oversized vehicles that would be involved in power restoration or delivering emergency relief supplies, a news release says.
  • South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem declared a state of emergency in South Dakota due to severe weather and has activated the state National Guard.
  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to ready resources in case of severe storms, flash flooding or other extreme weather, according to a statement from his office. The department has already begun to treat roadways across west and northwest Texas.
  • West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of preparedness for all 55 counties in his state, directing state agencies to prepare personnel and resources to respond quickly in the case of an emergency.
  • Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order declaring an energy emergency in the state due to weather, according to a news release from the governor's office. In the event of power outages, the order would allow for the swift delivery of fuel products and streamlined restoration efforts.
12:17 a.m. ET, December 23, 2022

What to do when your flight has been canceled or delayed

From CNN's Forrest Brown

Bad weather. Computer glitches. Staffing shortages. Oversold flights. Inflation. Holiday crunches. It has been a tough slog for many air travelers for much of 2022.

And it looks like the year will go out as rough as it came in with a severe winter storm that could make travel the week heading up to Christmas Day a dangerously cold, frustratingly messy affair.

What if you're one of the unlucky passengers caught up in these events? What can you do?

Read more about steps you can take here: