A massive winter storm has blanketed much of the eastern United States with snowfall and slippery conditions. At least five people have died in storm-related accidents. Many authorities and schools remain closed and people have stocked up on supplies. A record rapid decline is expected. A state of emergency has been declared in six states.
From Ohio to the capital Washington, millions of American citizens were affected on Monday, disrupting their daily work or travel plans. About 350,000 people were without power in nine states, including Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia.
Thousands of flights cancelled
More than 1,800 flights were canceled and hundreds of others delayed, according to the websites FlightAware and Poweroutage.us. In some places, temperatures were expected to drop to minus 18 degrees Celsius.
The governors of Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia and Maryland declared states of emergency in their states and urged residents to stay home.
Washington covered in snow
Warnings also apply to the capital Washington. It has been cold there the past few days, but dry. In the morning, people woke up in a snow-covered city.
Given the warnings, some had already stocked up on canned goods days ago, as was seen in supermarkets this weekend. According to the National Weather Service, snow could reach up to 16 inches in isolated areas. Federal authorities remain closed.
Numerous schools closed
Police reported hundreds of car accidents on slick roads across the country, with many motorists trapped in their cars by snow. ‘Please, please, please, stay home! This is not the time to look at the landscape,” a police officer in Kansas warned. As a precaution, many schools remained closed.
Record snowfall expected
Kansas and Missouri were particularly hard hit, where up to 10 inches of snow fell. The heaviest snowfall in a decade is expected in some regions, according to the weather service. People should prepare for “significant disruptions to daily life”, for example due to lightning strikes. In some places ten degrees below zero were measured – with temperature drops of up to 15 degrees. In Kentucky, snow plows and other emergency vehicles even got stuck.
State of emergency in several states
To provide more resources and, if necessary, deploy the National Guard to support emergency responders, Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for Kentucky. This also applied to six other states: Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas, Missouri, Maryland and parts of New Jersey.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
