Flights canceled as deadly snowstorm hits U.S. mid-Atlantic states
Visitors make their way through snow left by Winter Storm Gia, which paralyzed much of the nation's midsection, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 13, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Theiler
(Reuters) - A winter snowstorm blamed for the deaths of at least seven people in road accidents across the U.S. Midwest rolled into the mid-Atlantic states on Sunday, forcing a ground stop at Dulles International Airport and the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
Millions of Americans in 10 states and Washington, D.C., were under winter storm warnings as the weather system, which started as rain in Mexico was forecast to hit an 1,800-mile (2,900-km) swath of the United States from Colorado to the East Coast.
A total of 1,624 flights were canceled in and out of U.S. airports on Sunday, the bulk of them at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport and Dulles, according to the Flightaware flight tracking website. A further 3,113 departures were delayed.
Visitors make their way through snow left by Winter Storm Gia, which paralyzed much of the nation's midsection, on the grounds of the Washington Monument, in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 13, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Theiler
"The FAA has implemented a ground stop at Dulles due to the weather, which is impacting both inbound and outbound flights," Dulles airport said on Twitter. "Your airline will have the most up to date information on any flight impacts. Thank you for your patience!"
Several major airlines waived fees for changing or rebooking flights.
On Saturday, four people were killed in Missouri and three in Kansas died in roadway accidents, according to authorities in both states.
Visitors make their way under trees coated with snow left by Winter Storm Gia, which paralyzed much of the nation's midsection, at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 13, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Theiler
(Reporting by Gabriella Borter in New York and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Peter Cooney)
Visitors make their way through snow left by Winter Storm Gia, which paralyzed much of the nation's midsection, at the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 13, 2019. REUTERS/Mike TheilerVisitors bundle up against the snow and freezing temperatures left by Winter Storm Gia, which paralyzed much of the nation's midsection, at the Reflecting Pool with the Washington Monument in the background, in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 13, 2019. REUTERS/Mike TheilerSnow left by Winter Storm Gia, which paralyzed much of the nation's midsection, blankets tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 13, 2019. REUTERS/Mike TheilerA pick up pulls a truck uphill in Saint Louis, Missouri, January 11, 2019 in this still image obtained from social media video. ADAM BOSLER/via REUTERS A South Metro Fire Rescue personnel moves to rescue a dog from a nearly frozen pond in Lone Tree, Colorado, U.S. in this still frame taken from January 12, 2019 social media video. SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE/via REUTERS A South Metro Fire Rescue personnel rescues a dog from a nearly frozen pond in Lone Tree, Colorado, U.S. in this still frame taken from January 12, 2019 social media video. SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE/via REUTERS FILE PHOTO: Snow in Columbia, Missouri, U.S. January 12, 2019, in this still image obtained from a social media video. Courtesy of Hillary Tan/Social Media via REUTERSFILE PHOTO: Cars covered in snow are parked in Kansas City, Missouri, January 12, 2019 in this still image obtained from social media video. K. MCPHERSON/via REUTERS
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