Passengers at North Carolina’s primary airport are encountering delays as winter storms and cold conditions grip much of the Southeast.
The website of Charlotte Douglas International shows dozens of delays, as well as several flight cancellations.
Why It Matters
While most are minor, some lasting under an hour, the weather-related delays promise to disrupt travel for some of the roughly 118,000 people who use the Charlotte Douglas International airport every day.
The delays also indicate that the storms affecting much of the Southeast are shifting northwest. In recent days, severe weather has swept through the region, bringing snow, flooding, and tornado threats to states including West Virginia, Kentucky, and Mississippi.
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What to Know
At least four people have so far died as a result of the extreme winter conditions, according to several outlets and local officials. Two weather-related fatalities have been confirmed in Louisiana; police linked a fatal crash in Kentucky with the extreme cold; and authorities in St. Paul-Minneapolis told CBS News that a death may have been caused by the freezing temperatures.
The delays follow the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing a warning over harsh weather for residents of Huntersville and Gastonia in North Carolina, which is also affecting the Charlotte Douglas Airport. In its announcement, the NWS said that winds of up to 40 mph were anticipated, and encouraged people to seek shelter “in a sturdy structure.”
“Severe weather has impacted dozens of flights at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Sunday,” NBC-affiliate WCNC Charlotte posted to X.
“Heavy downpours and strong winds have been reported in the North Carolina mountains as these storms push closer to the Charlotte metro,” the station also said.
What People Are Saying
“A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING has been issued for parts of central NC & southern VA. Be aware of hail & damaging wind in these areas,” Wes Hohenstein, chief meteorologist at WNCN, posted on Sunday morning.
The University of North Carolina (UNC) is advising students on its campus to seek shelter for the duration of the storms. “For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building,” UNC wrote in an alert on its website.
What Happens Next?
Severe thunderstorm warnings have also been issued for many other parts of state, including Wake County and Durham County. The threat of severe storms is expected to subside on Sunday morning, according to Raleigh-based station WRAL, though wind advisories and flood watch notices will remain in place for some counties until Monday.
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