Tornadoes devastate Houston area; flights disrupted nationwide
Four tornadoes struck the Houston area in Texas on Saturday, severely disrupting air traffic and causing thousands of delayed flights across the United States.
The Houston area in Texas faced devastating tornadoes on Saturday, leading to tragic outcomes. In Brazoria County, the tornadoes damaged homes and destroyed trees. As a result of the disaster, one person lost their life and four others were injured.
This marked the second occurrence of strong storms in three days, affecting Austin, Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, and Galveston counties. Local authorities report significant damage to homes and schools. Photos on social media show building ruins, broken trees, and damaged power poles.
Tornado sweeps through the U.S. causing air traffic disruptions
Severe weather conditions severely impacted holiday travel throughout the United States. Heavy snowfall and strong winds on the West Coast resulted in thousands of flight delays or cancellations. According to FlightAware, over 7,000 flights experienced delays on Saturday, with more than 200 flights canceled.
The National Weather Service warns of further threats. In the western U.S., winds reached speeds of up to 240 kilometres per hour at high elevations in the Tahoe Basin, and 80 kilometres per hour in lower areas. Heavy rainfall is expected from San Francisco to Portland.
Meteorologists predict that before New Year's Eve, up to 90 centimetres of snow could accumulate in the Lake Tahoe area. Destructive winds could topple trees and power lines. "Widespread power outages are possible," warns the NWS.
