World
US storm brings heavy snowfall and flight cancellations; iguanas drop from trees in Florida.

A massive portion of the US, stretching from the Gulf Coast to New England, faced bitterly cold temperatures Sunday following a bomb cyclone that dumped heavy snow, caused hundreds of flight cancellations, and left Florida with flurries and falling iguanas. Thousands in the South still struggled without power after last weekend’s ice storm.
Around 150 million people in the eastern US were under cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings, with wind chills near zero to single digits in southern states. South Florida experienced its coldest air since December 1989, according to Peter Mullinax, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.
Tampa-St. Petersburg saw snow flurries and freezing temperatures, while cold-stunned iguanas fell from trees. These reptiles, dormant in cold weather, can die if exposed to extreme cold for over a day. The frost also damaged strawberries and oranges, prompting some farmers to spray water on crops to prevent losses.
In North Carolina, the bomb cyclone delivered nearly a foot of snow around Charlotte, ranking among the city’s top-five snow events. Flight cancellations exceeded 2,800 on Saturday, with another 1,500 on Sunday, about 800 of which affected Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Interstate 85 near Charlotte faced severe traffic disruptions after a crash caused long delays. North Carolina reported over 1,000 collisions and two road deaths.
Residents, like Greenville insurance agent Lee Harrison, adapted by staying home and enjoying the snow safely with family. Across the US, more than 110 storm-related deaths have occurred since late January. Tennessee and Mississippi still had nearly 97,000 people without power, while Florida had about 29,000 affected. Utilities expect most power to be restored within the next week.
Officials called the storms unprecedented, with Mississippi experiencing its worst winter storm since 1994. Warming centers were opened, and the National Guard delivered supplies. Meanwhile, the Carolinas are expected to continue digging out from snow, gusty winds, and bitter cold. Light snow could reach the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic, including Washington D.C. and possibly New York City, in the coming days.



