Severe weather causes thousands of flights to be delayed in the US

More than 7,000 flights were delayed and more than 200 others were canceled across the United States on Saturday, according to FlightAware.

At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, nearly a third of flights were delayed. The situation was no better at other major airports like Dallas/Fort Worth and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, with nearly half of flights delayed.

In the southeastern United States, at least 10 tornadoes occurred in the states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, killing at least 1 person and injuring 4 others in Brazoria County, Texas, about 72 km south of Houston.

Many homes and schools were damaged or destroyed, with images on social media showing scenes of debris, trees and power poles downed in streets and yards.

On the West Coast of the United States, wind gusts of up to 150 mph (240 km/h) are forecast in the upper reaches of Lake Tahoe, California, and 50 mph (80 km/h) in lower areas, along with heavy rain from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon. Between 4 and 6 inches (10 cm) of rain is expected before New Year's Eve 2025, with up to 36 inches (90 cm) of snow in the Lake Tahoe area.

“Strong winds could topple trees and power lines, leading to widespread power outages,” the National Weather Service warned. The agency also predicted that the death toll and injuries could rise, and many homes and schools could be severely damaged or destroyed.

The severe weather comes as millions of Americans are traveling for the holiday season, severely disrupting many people's plans and raising concerns about travel safety in the coming days.

Cao Phong (according to Straitstimes, Reuters)