Winter Storm Oaklee LIVE – At least 5 people die in freezing weather as thousands of flights canceled by snow and ice

East Coast Airport flights canceled

As of 10.15am EST, 525 flights into or out of Boston Logan International Airport , according to airline tracker FlightAware.com.

At Newark Liberty, almost 200 flights were canceled, more than 150 at LaGuardia, and more than 100 at Reagan National.

Before traveling to the airport, travelers should verify with their airline, per the .

New Yorkers encouraged to avoid roads

The New York State Thruway Authority posted a notification to Twitter asking citizens to avoid taking the roads due to the aftermath of the storm.

They wrote: "Please avoid travel until later today but if you must be on the road, please give our operators room to work."

Texas primary voting hours extended

Due to this week's winter weather closures and delays, Travis County officials extended early voting hours in Austin, Texas until 10pm on February 25, according to the .

The primary for various state and local contests, including governor and lieutenant governor, will be held on March 1.

Man dead in Missouri due to weather

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 52-year-old man died when on a route near Rolla on Thursday night.

John Mattingly of St. Peters, Missouri, .

St. Peters is roughly 28 miles northwest of St. Louis.

Biggest snowstorms of all time, continued

The NESIS takes into account the fact that some of the deadliest storms feature little snowfalls that are blown out of sight by hurricane-force winds.

Some storms are more severe than others because they hit big cities or are so broad that they hit many cities.

Biggest snowstorms of all time: ranked

According to , the 10 biggest snowstorms of all time are:

• The Blizzard of 1888: Northeastern United States
• The Storm of the Century, 1993: Eastern United States
• New York City Blizzard of 2006
• Lhunze County, Tibet in 2008
• Mount Shasta, California in 1959
• The Eastern Canadian Blizzard of 1971: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
• The Iran Blizzard of 1972: Iran and Azerbaijan
• The Great Snow of 1717: New England
• The Buffalo Blizzard of 1977
• Snowmageddon of 2014: Atlanta

'Winter wonderland'

Massive winter storms can span the spectrum of being a bit of a nuisance to being outright dangerous for most, but ski resorts and other winter-loving businesses don't seem to mind the impact of a weather system like Winter Storm Oaklee.

A account for Whiteface Mountain in New York, where people are able to ski, celebrated the arrival of the storm and the snow that would pile up as a result.

"It's a winter wonderland, and snow is piling up with freshies for every run. What better way to end Presidents' week than with a snowstorm for your weekend?"

Last year's storms were deadly in Texas

The winter storms in Texas in 2021 proved very deadly for residents there.

A Department of State Health Services report on the freezing temperatures last year found that 246 deaths were caused, which spanned 77 counties, and those who died ranged from under 1-year-old to 102 years old.

Nearly two-thirds of the deaths were due to hyperthermia, the  reported.

Before the storm hits, continued

If you have any chargers, purses, garage openers, or keys in your car, you will want to take them out.

Finally, lock your vehicle. This seems simple, but it is easily forgotten.

You will be away from your vehicle for an extended period, so it doesn’t hurt to double-check that you have locked it.

What to do before a storm hits

Winter storms can last for days, and it’s never good to leave a car dirty for an extended period of time.

Acidic material could eat away at your paint, and car covers could rub dirt around the clearcoat and make scratches.

So if you know a winter storm is coming, it is a good idea to clean it off quickly, before you park it somewhere safe for the duration of the storm.

After you have washed your vehicle, collect any belongings that you might need over the next few days out of your car.

'15 hours apart'

On , meteorologist Chris Bruin shared side-by-side photos of the same spot in Boston, 15 hours apart, to show the difference after Oaklee dumped several inches of snow in the city.

How nor'easters differ from hurricanes

Over the Atlantic Ocean, both nor'easters and hurricanes form. Both are cyclones, which are storms with winds spiraling around a central low-pressure zone.

Hurricanes form over the warm waters of the tropics, which are located close to the equator.

Nor'easters form further north, along the United States' eastern coast. Nor'easters, on the other hand, thrive on cold air in the atmosphere and gain strength from it, whereas hurricanes thrive on warm air.

February: the height of winter storm season

The month of February is  for named winter storms.

There were  in this month from 2013 to 2021, according to The Weather Channel.

The final snowstorm of the season has been predicted to arrive between mid-March and mid-May.

Through the end of the week, this current storm will spread snow and possibly destructive ice from parts of the West to the Southern Plains, Midwest, and Northeast.

Storm moves over Northeast

The heaviest snow is expected in parts of the Northeast on Friday, according to the .

It is expected "across far northern Pennsylvania, much of New York state, with the exception of the lower Hudson Valley"; and "eastward into much of New England."

Both sleet or freezing rain could fall in those areas, potentially as far south as New York City.

Massive snowfall in Massachusetts

Mike Seidel, a meteorologist with the Weather Channel, shared a video of snow falling in Boston on Friday.

Why did the US start naming storms, continued

Established by the World Meteorological Organization, a list of names are now used to identify Atlantic hurricanes on a six-year rotation.

The only time that there is a change is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm is considered inappropriate.

In the event that more than 21 named tropical cyclones occur in a season, a supplemental list of names is used.

As for winter storms, The Weather Channel has been naming winter storms since the 2012-2013 winter season.

Why did the US start naming storms?

Tropical storms and hurricanes were tracked by year and the order they occurred until the early 1950s.

However, over time, it was discovered that distinctive names would be needed to reduce confusion and streamline communications when two or more tropical storms occur at the same time.

That came after storm advisories broadcast from radio stations were mistaken for warnings concerning an entirely different storm located hundreds of miles away.

Stunning drone footage

The Weather Channel shared stunning drone footage of a snow-covered road after the storm made its way over Arkansas.

Big, 'fat' snowflakes

Weather Channel correspondent Justin Michaels shared a slow-motion video of snow falling in Albany on Friday.

"Big, fat #snowflakes make for a great snow #slomo in Albany, NY ❄️ @weatherchannel continues live coverage of winter storm #Oaklee 🥶," he .

Picking names

The Weather Channel chooses names for snowstorms, and explained the process on its .

“The names will be used in alphabetical order to identify winter storms that meet objective naming criteria based on National Weather Service winter storm warnings, blizzard warnings and ice storm warnings,” the outlet noted.

Who names snowstorms?

The  names snowstorms.

The outlet noted that the 2021-22 season is the 10th season The Weather Channel will be naming winter storms.

How to prepare for a winter storm

Per , the best way to prepare for a winter storm is by doing the following:

• Make an emergency supply kit. Cleaning tools, two masks per person to avoid the spread of Covid-19, and non-perishable meals that can last many days or weeks in case you have to stay at home should all be included in your box.
• Make a communication strategy for your family.
• Assist parents with sprinkling sidewalks and pathways with rock salt, sand, or kitty litter. This aids in making them less slick.
• Make sure you’re dressed warmly and have enough of blankets on hand.
• Bring your dogs inside with you. They can also be harmed by the cold.

How winter storms cause deaths

Most who die from winter storms are not killed by the weather itself.

A majority of the deaths are traffic accidents on icy roads.

Some also die from heart attacks while shoveling snow, and hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold weather.

Winter storm names

These are the  during the 2021 to 2022 season:

• Atticus
• Bankston
• Carrie
• Delphine
• Elmer
• Frida
• Garrett
• Hatcher
• Izzy
• Jasper
• Kenan
• Landon
• Miles
• Nancy
• Oaklee
• Phyllis
• Quinlan
• Rachel
• Silas
• Tad
• Usher
• Vega
• Willow
• Xandy
• Yeager
• Zion

How much ice should you expect?

Ice will accumulate in slicken driving in areas stretching from central and northern Texas to the Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic states, per the .

Precipitation may shift to rain before finishing in certain sections of the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic, reducing the risk of ice accumulation.

From far north-central Texas through eastern and southeastern Oklahoma, into northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, ice accumulations may affect electricity.

In the areas indicated in the "medium threat" on the map, from north Texas across the Ohio Valley to Pennsylvania, at least some tree damage and scattered power outages are expected.