Washington - Hundreds of holiday travellers were stranded Tuesday by a snowstorm at Chicago's O'Hare airport, the latest victim of a series of winter storms that have played havoc across the country. The Chicago Tribune reported that airlines cancelled more than 400 flights at O'Hare, one of the country's major transport hubs. Similar delays and cancellations were reported at Chicago's Midway Airport.
Over the weekend, storms roared through the US north-east and north-west, and promised to shroud Canada from coast to coast for the first white Christmas since 1971 during the Christian holiday on Thursday.
Nearly 60,000 Canadians had no electricity, after trees fell and electric polls snapped in the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia, CTV broadcaster reported. Emergency refuge was set up in Halifax for people without power, while neighbours were asked to look after vacated homes.
The weather dealt another blow to the already hard-hit North American retail industry, struggling to keep head above water in the recession. Stores have discounted prices to loss levels but have been helpless to boost sales amidst icy roads and deep freeze weather.
