LaGuardia, Dallas airports issue ground stops as winter storm warnings, dangerous temps sweep nation: Live updates

Winter storm warnings and weather advisories stretched from Texas to New York on Tuesday as snow, sleet and freezing rain snarled air traffic and brought havoc to roadways.

More than 50 million Americans were under some sort of winter weather warning or watch Tuesday, including 18 million under a wind chill advisory.

Almost 3,000 flights within, into or out of the U.S. delayed or canceled before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. In Texas, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport issued a ground stop Tuesday morning due to snow and ice. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth said a band of sleet storms was moving over the area.

"Expect road conditions to continue to worsen," the Fort Worth office said in a tweet. "It is advised to NOT be on the roads today. If possible, please stay home. It’s messy out there."

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/weather/2023/01/25/dramatically-colder-weather-spread-across-north-central-states/11121265002/

Other airport developments:

►In New York, LaGuardia Airport issued a brief ground stop early Tuesday from icy weather conditions that were causing " flight disruptions." Planes began flying again, delays were averaging almost an hour. Travelers were advised to check with airlines to determine the status of flights.

►In North Carolina, Charlotte Douglas International Airport issued a ground stop because of fog and low visibility.

►In Kentucky, Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport was briefly closed because of weather conditions.

Winter storm warnings hit Texas, extend east

A winter storm warning was in effect in north Texas and western central Texas until noon on Wednesday, the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said. The area was mostly expecting freezing rain and sleet. The Austin metro area was also under a winter storm warning until Wednesday. Officials warned against any non-emergency travel and said power outages are possible.

The ice storm warning impacting Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee until noon on Wednesday was expected to bring ice accumulations of a quarter to one-half inch, the weather service in Memphis said.

Travel is also discouraged in these areas, and power outages and tree damages are likely from the icy conditions. Parts of east Arkansas, Northern Mississippi and west Tennessee were under an ice storm warning, and officials cautioned against traveling in the hazardous conditions.

Wind advisories, wind chills as low as 35 degrees below zero

Farther north, wind advisories were in effect in Wisconsin, Minnesota and other states across the Midwest and Plains until Tuesday morning. Wind chills dropped to 35 degrees below zero in some places. The dangerous temperatures can “cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes,” the National Weather Service warned.

Similar warnings extended into:

Colorado

Iowa

Kansas

Minnesota

Montana

Nebraska

North Dakota

South Dakota

Temperatures are expected to rise in parts of Wisconsin on Wednesday and Thursday, the Appleton Post-Crescent, part of the USA TODAY Network reported. But wind chills are expected to drop into negative 20s on Friday.

FLIGHTS SCRUBBED:Almost 1,000 US flights canceled Tuesday morning as winter storm extends east

SIGNIFICANT ICING EVENT:50 million under winter weather warnings as arctic cold moves in; Texas braces for days of ice

In the United States, winter climates vary greatly depending on location. Some areas have cold, snowy winters, while others have mild, rainy ones. In the northern states, such as Maine, Minnesota, and Montana, temperatures can drop to below freezing and there can be heavy snowfall. In southern states, such as Florida and Texas, winters are milder and can bring rain and occasional cold snaps. The western states, such as California and Colorado, can have a mix of weather patterns, with some areas experiencing dry, sunny conditions, and others getting heavy snowfall.