- More than a million Americans were left without power due to the winter storm.
- Snow and ice caused the cancellation of more than 15,000 flights in the country.
- Southern states such as Tennessee, Texas and Mississippi were the most affected.
- Authorities are warning residents not to travel and prepare for blackouts.
More than a million customers in the United States were without power on Sunday due to adverse winter weather. Snow and ice should last in a large part of the country until Monday, AP and DPA agencies reported. So far, more than 15,000 flights have been canceled in the country due to bad weather.
The most affected were states in the southern part of the USA such as Tennessee, where more than 300,000 customers were without electricity, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. During Sunday, meteorologists predicted a worsening of the situation in the Northeast, in New York, Philadelphia or Washington, where 30 to 60 centimeters of snow may fall.
They are also expecting very cold temperatures to arrive in the coming days, causing hazardous conditions for transportation and infrastructure, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. It can also complicate the restoration of electricity supplies. Heavy snow was forecast for the Ohio River region in the northeast, while “catastrophic ice accumulation” threatened the southeast and Atlantic coast.
About 190 million people, or more than half the population of the United States, live in the warning areas. Several US states have already declared a state of emergency in advance. Authorities urged people not to travel from home if possible.
In Washington, residents were advised to have flashlights ready and to charge their cell phones. According to NBC News, centers have been set up in all five boroughs of New York where residents can come to warm up. Schools in New York will also be closed on Monday.
