Home » Missing Cape Town as #Blizzard2016 Hits USA and Flights Cancelled

Missing Cape Town as #Blizzard2016 Hits USA and Flights Cancelled

A South African chef, Bruce Marais – who now lives in the USA – has posted the following videos and photos revealing the extent of the record-breaking Winter Storm Jonas – which some have called Snowzilla – as blizzards and gale-force winds have hit the USA this weekend, causing thousands of flights to be cancelled…including those […]

By SAPeople
24-01-16 03:11
in Fab South African Stuff

A South African chef, Bruce Marais – who now lives in the USA – has posted the following videos and photos revealing the extent of the record-breaking Winter Storm Jonas – which some have called Snowzilla – as blizzards and gale-force winds have hit the USA this weekend, causing thousands of flights to be cancelled…including those from South Africa.

Snow storm in the USA

He posted the first video of the snow storm a few hours ago, saying: “The current weather situation and it’s only going to get worse. I miss Cape Town…”

The current weather situation and it’s only going to get worse. I miss Cape Town 🙁

Posted by Bruce Marais on Saturday, 23 January 2016

A little while later, Bruce posted another video saying: “Forget the snow, we’re getting flooded!” He added: “No sympathy needed, it’s actually very exciting!!”

Forget the snow, we’re getting flooded! No sympathy needed, it’s actually very exciting!!

Posted by Bruce Marais on Saturday, 23 January 2016

Like tens of millions of people in the southern and eastern states of the USA, Bruce “stocked up properly before the storm” (and has some good red wine to see him through).

Snow storm in the USA

Snow storm in the USA

His house is on stilts fortunately “but there is a room downstairs on ground level. We took everything out before the flood.”

Snow storm in the USA

At least 11 states have been declared emergencies. Hundreds of thousands of houses are without power, and at least 13 fatalities have been reported as a consequence of the weather which resulted in over two feet of snow in Washington DC.

Snow storm in the USA

Transport has been suspended, bridges have shut and thousands of flights have been cancelled – including direct South African Airways (SAA) flights to the USA – as the USA experiences what could be one of its worst snowstorms in a century.

It’s been officially named Winter Storm Jonas by the Weather Channel, although it’s also been nicknamed Snowmaggedon2016 or Snowzilla!

Car in storm, USA
Photo from South African expat Dawn Morris, in Virginia – “All us expats and Yanks have been calling it Snowzilla…no one knew the official name. Seems such a tame name for such a huge storm. This is my car 4 hours ago!!”

Snow storm in the USA

SAA released the following advisory today: “South African Airways (SAA) advises all customers that due to the adverse weather conditions as a result of “Winter Storm Jonas“ the following South African Airways flights to and from Washington Dulles International Airport operated via Dakar, Senegal and to and from New York, John F. Kennedy International Airport will be cancelled as follows…”

Snow storm in the USA

The advisory then listed the specific flights to and from Washington and New York today and tomorrow, and said “assistance will be provided to all ticketed passengers holding a South African Airway’s Ticket (only) via any SAA Call Centre, City Travel Office or dedicated Travel Agent…”

Snow storm in the USA

For the conditions and details, visit:
http://www.flysaa.com/cms/commons/advisoryNotice/travel_advisory.html

Bruce says: “We’re expecting another flood, coming in later…” Vasbyt!

All photos above (except the car covered in snow) by Bruce Marais, thank you.

Watch Video: Tian Tian in the Snow Jan. 23, 2016

Here’s one of today’s most shared videos – uploaded by Smithsonian’s National Zoo – “Male giant panda Tian Tian woke up this morning to a lot of snow, and he was pretty excited about it. Giant pandas have thick woolly coats that keep them warm in the snowy mountains of China. #Blizzard2016”

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