A strong cold wave is hanging over the United States this week, expected to continue in the coming days, which has damaged energy supplies and caused widespread blackouts for around half of the North American population.
Forecasters warn that damage, especially in ice-hit areas, could rival that of a hurricane. At least 177 million people were under ice and snow watches or warnings, and more than 200 million people were under extreme cold watches or warnings. In many locations, the two alerts overlapped.
The forecast is for snow and hail to fall this Friday, the 23rd, in the states of Texas and Oklahoma. The storm is expected to advance south of the country before heading to the Northeast, with the US National Weather Service warning of more than a foot of snow in New York, Boston and the capital Washington.
More than a thousand flights across the United States were delayed or canceled this Friday, with well over half in Dallas, Texas, according to tracking website FlightAware. The website listed more than 1,400 cancellations for Saturday, when the worst of the weather could begin in Atlanta, Georgia, one of the busiest airports.
Ice can bring down power lines
After the ice and snow ceases, frigid air from the north will move south and east across the country. Thawing is expected to take time, which is especially dangerous because the glacial layer can press on power lines and branches. In at least 11 Southern states, from Texas to Virginia, most homes are heated with electricity, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The northeast of the country could record its biggest snowfall in years. Boston declared a cold weather emergency over the weekend, and Connecticut is working with neighboring states New York and Massachusetts if traffic restrictions are needed on major highways.
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*Source: Associated Press.
Content translated with the help of Artificial Intelligence, reviewed and edited by the Editorial Team BroadcastGrupo Estado’s real-time news system.
