happy holidays we re here at msnbc headquarters in new york city, thank you for spending time with us on this monday the death toll from the once in a lifetime multi-state winter storm over the weekend continues to rise today. up by about 20 from this hour yesterday. we now have at least 55 people dead across 12 states with western new york especially hard-hit nearly half of those fatalities are in new york s erie county alone. the freezing temperatures and wind gusts also knocking out power for tens of thousands. in the latest update today, new york governor kathy hochul told drivers to stay off the roads and what first responders are discovering as they conduct rescue operations. going into homes, going into vehicles, and too many tragic times finding people who have not survived the experience. they re grieving inside, as we all are, for the families who are getting horrible heart-breaking news that their loved ones succumbed to the storm over the last day or two, and ou
heart-breaking news that their loved ones succumbed to the storm over the last day or two, and our hearts are breaking for them and we ll be there to support their families and get them through this, but also the people, the ones who find their loved ones, it does take a toll. with many americans, hitting the roads and skies today, and dealing with thousands of holiday flight cancellations, and delays at chicago s midway airport for instance, unclaimed luggage was seen piling up today, and one passenger at o hare bringing it down to this it looks like a zoo it s a complete utter zoo, chaos, it s crazy. nbc news correspondent dasha burns joins us live from new york city, and shaquille brew ter is at chicago s o hare airport. dasha, we ll start with you first and in terms of fatalities and how folks have passed in the streets, in cars, tell us more about what we know about this snowstorm and how it is affecting new york and other
captioning sponsored by cbs yuccas: tonight, canceled christmas plans. more than 1,000 u.s. flights grounded this weekend, as covid ravages airline staffing. will travel return to pre- pandemic levels? i m liliana luciano at l.a.x. with some of the highest numbers of holiday flight cancellations. yuccas: plus, the virus forces worshipers online for christmas services. i m elise preston in new york, where many are disappointed they can t celebrate the holiday together. yuccas: at the vatican, pope francis prays for healing and peace. also tonight: the queen s speech. britain s 95-year-old monarch reflects on a year of loss for her family and so many others. i wish you all a very happy christmas.
thousands of travelers whose christmas holidays were canceled, disrupted as they were left scrambling at one of the biggest travel times of the year. charles watson is live at one of america s busiest airports, hartsfield jackson in atlanta. hi, charles. reporter: good afternoon. the wave of holiday flight cancellations continues today already airlines canceling more than 2200 flights globally amid the rapid thread of the covid-19 and omicron variants. united and delta airlines lead the pack among american carriers with the most cancellations with the two having a combined 775 flights between christmas day and today and in large part due to staffing shortages. saying in a statement quote, a combination of issues including, but not limited to inclement weather in some areas of the country and the impact of the omicron variant is bringing cancellations and potential delays and it s been quite the nightmare for holiday travelers caught the