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Cold shock for the East Coast: Winter storm paralyzes transport!
A powerful winter storm is bringing massive snowfall and flight cancellations across the US, while millions of people are affected.
Cold shock for the East Coast: Winter storm paralyzes transport!
A severe winter storm has caused significant damage across the United States, particularly on the East Coast and the Midwest. As the Wesermarsch district newspaper reported that there were a total of 1,659 flight cancellations on Friday, ten times as many as the previous day, which is causing great uncertainty for travelers. The airports in New York are particularly affected, where around 886 flights were canceled at the major airports John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark.
But it wasn't just air traffic that suffered from the winter chaos. More than 60 million people are affected by the storm in around a dozen states. How ZDF today reported that public life is severely restricted in many regions; Schools and public institutions remain closed in many places, while traffic on the highways has come to a standstill in some cases due to lightning ice.
Amounts of snow and dangers
In New York, the National Weather Service is forecasting up to 13 cm of new snow, while in more northern regions even 28 cm is possible. In some remote areas, snow could total up to 40 cm. Meteorologists are calling the storm “brutal” as it brings massive snowfall and cold temperatures. Temperatures could be 7 to 14 degrees Celsius below normal, meaning it could get as cold as minus 18 degrees Celsius in many areas, like the daily news reported.
Also not to be neglected: the risk of freezing water. The New York city government is advising residents to avoid unnecessary travel and prepare for an extended stay at home. Dozens of car accidents were reported on slippery roads, and in Virginia alone, police recorded up to 230 crashes over the weekend.
Power outages and emergencies
The effects of the winter storm are clearly felt in many households. Around 200,000 households are without power, particularly in states such as Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. The governor of Maryland declared a state of emergency, and similar measures were adopted in Kentucky and six other states. The reporting makes it clear that schools and government institutions in many cities remain closed and those affected are stocking up on food and other supplies.
The cold air that is responsible for the extreme weather conditions is attributed to a polar vortex that is moving south. This has led to a significant drop in temperature in many regions, which seems to be noticeable even in warm Florida.