Bomb Cyclone Brings Heavy Snow, Canceled Flights, and Falling Iguanas Across the U.S.

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A powerful bomb cyclone has brought heavy snow, hundreds of flight cancellations, and frigid temperatures across a large swath of the United States from the Gulf Coast to New England. The storm has led to over 110 weather-related deaths nationwide since late January, left thousands without power, and caused iguanas to fall from trees in Florida due to the cold.

Why it matters

The extreme winter weather has caused significant disruptions and damage across multiple states, highlighting the growing threat of climate change-fueled extreme weather events. The storm has impacted transportation, power grids, agriculture, and public safety, underscoring the need for improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness.

The details

The bomb cyclone brought nearly a foot of snow to the Charlotte, North Carolina area, representing a top-five snow event for the city. Other parts of North Carolina saw over 18 inches of snow, leading to hundreds of traffic accidents and two road deaths. In Florida, the cold temperatures caused iguanas to become immobilized and fall from trees, while also damaging strawberry and citrus crops. Flight cancellations exceeded 2,800 on Saturday and 1,500 on Sunday, with about 800 of the Sunday cancellations at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

• On Sunday morning, the Tampa-St. Petersburg area in Florida saw snow flurries and temperatures in the 20s in the Panhandle and 30s in South Florida.
• Since late January, over 110 deaths have been connected to the wintry weather and storms across the U.S.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Heading into Tuesday and Wednesday, light snow could fall in the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic, from Washington D.C. and possibly into New York City.