The snowstorms that hit the United States on Sunday took a deadly toll. As CNN reported, three people died. More than 60 million Americans were under weather alerts, and states of emergency were declared in several states. Many people are without electricity, and there are serious difficulties at airports.
As CNN reported on Monday, two people died on Sunday in Wichita, Kansas. It happened when the car they were traveling in skidded and fell down an embankment. Additionally, that day in Independence, Missouri, a dump truck left the road and hit a 61-year-old pedestrian, who died at the scene.
Since Sunday, intense snowfall has been covering an increasing area of ​​the country, and its zone is moving from north to south. A warning of heavy snowfall and dangerous icing was issued to more than 60 million people in 30 states.
“For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in more than a decade,” warned the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration's (NOAA) Weather Prediction Center.
Heavy snowfall in WashingtonPAP/EPA/SHAWN THEW
State of emergency in seven states
States of emergency have been declared in Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas and parts of New Jersey.
-The declaration of a snow emergency allows our snow removal crews to better clear evacuation routes across Washington and will remain in effect through the end of the day on Tuesday. If you don't have to go on the road, stay at home. Let our teams work, said Muriel Bowser, mayor of the District of Columbia.
Hundreds of thousands of people without electricity, flights canceled
On Monday morning, local time, from Missouri to Virginia, more than 310,000 customers were without power. A thick layer of ice, heavy snow and gusty winds downed trees and took down power lines.
As of 7 a.m. local time on Monday, more than 1,300 flights to and from the U.S. had been canceled, according to air traffic tracking website FlightAware. On Sunday, disruptions affected more than 1,800 flights, with the greatest disruptions occurring at Kansas City International Airport, where 86 percent of flights were canceled.
On Monday, all federal government offices in the US capital were closed. The same applies to offices and public schools in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Washington and Virginia.
Heavy snowfall in WashingtonPAP/EPA/SHAWN THEW
Heavy snowfall in WashingtonPAP/EPA/SHAWN THEW
“Historical Storm”
Snowfall is expected to hit the states of Kansas and Missouri the hardest. More than 50 centimeters of snow fell in Champan, Kansas. Meanwhile, in the state capital, Kansas City, 28 cm was recorded on Sunday, making it the fourth largest snowfall in one day in the history of measurements in this city.
– It's historic storm – Brian Platt, a representative of the Kansas City authorities, said in an interview with NBC News. – We haven't seen snowfall like this for 32 years – he added.
Americans will face dangerous weather until at least Tuesday. Then the snowstorm zone is expected to enter the Atlantic, and Arctic air will flow in from the north to replace it. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of freezing temperatures.
BBC, PAP, Reuters, CNN, tvnmeteo.pl
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/SHAWN THEW