Mobility crisis and frozen iguanas: news about the winter storm in the US

News about the storm that recently battered the southeastern United States revealed a landscape of widespread chaos. Last weekend, an extreme weather system triggered a cascade of disruptions affecting both land and air transportation, as well as a curious biological phenomenon: thousands of immobilized iguanas falling from trees in Florida.

Massive transportation disruptions: cancellations and accidents

The snow that began falling on Saturday in North Carolina and neighboring states caused hundreds of collisions on the roads, despite authorities urging citizens to stay home. Governor Josh Stein reported over 1,000 traffic accidents in the state, with at least two fatalities.

In the airport sector, the impact was even more severe. According to flight tracking service FlightAware, over 1,700 flight cancellations were recorded on Sunday. Charlotte Airport was the most affected, suspending more than half of its operations. Other terminals also faced massive cascading cancellations.

Record temperatures in Florida: the strange phenomenon of falling iguanas

The most unusual event occurred in the state known for its beaches and tropical climate. An unprecedented polar cold wave brought sub-zero temperatures to Florida, causing the “iguana rain” phenomenon: these cold-blooded reptiles become immobilized when the thermometer drops near 0°C or lower.

Orlando Airport recorded -4°C on Sunday morning, the lowest temperature ever documented for a February month in over a hundred years. Residents across the region shared videos on social media showing these large lizards lying on the ground, paralyzed. The state wildlife agency authorized citizens to collect fallen animals for safekeeping.

Disaster figures: dead, accidents, and canceled flights

The situation worsened considering that just a week earlier, another winter storm had hit much of the country, leaving more than 100 dead. In Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana, tens of thousands of households remained without power when this new system arrived.

Weekend snowfalls were particularly intense in localized areas. Near Wilmington, a coastal town in North Carolina, up to 16 inches of snow accumulated in a few hours, representing the strongest snowfall recorded in decades for that region.

Impact on space missions and expected recovery

Extreme winter conditions also affected critical operations. An important fuel supply test for an NASA rocket scheduled at Cape Canaveral had to be postponed. This test was part of preparations for the Artemis 2 lunar mission.

Although most of the weather disruptions have now passed, experts remain alert about the persistence of a polar cold air mass that would continue affecting much of the territory. News about the storm will remain relevant as regions work to restore services and normalize transportation.