An extraordinary winter storm has affected millions of people in nine states. The US East Coast has been the worst hit.
17:36•Updated 18:31
American NBC (you switch to another service) estimates that up to 50 people have died in winter storms over the Christmas holidays.
News channel CNN (switch to another service) and news agency AFP reported that there would be at least 37 victims in nine different states.
Exceptionally strong winter storms have tested the United States and Canada during the Christmas holidays.
Heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures have especially affected the eastern parts of the country, but deaths have also been reported in the central part of the country in Colorado, where at least four people have reportedly frozen to death.
In Erie County, New York, 25 people are reported to have died as a result of the bad weather.
More than 2.4 meters of snow has fallen in Buffalo, the largest city in the region. Bad driving weather has led to numerous traffic accidents and bodies have been found in vehicles and under snow masses.
In other parts of New York state, it has also snowed exceptionally much during the Christmas holidays, in some places even more than 100 centimeters.
A state governor Kathy Hochulin over 500 rescue authorities have participated in the rescue work over the weekend.
Power outages and flight cancellations are testing Americans
The so-called “bomb cyclone” is estimated to have affected more than 250 million people during the Christmas holidays.
A bomb cyclone means a rapidly intensifying storm. The phenomenon is accompanied by heavy snowfall and gale-force winds, which can be as strong as a hurricane.
More than 10 million people have received a cold weather warning in several states, including in the South.
For example, readings of minus 38 degrees Celsius have been measured in Minnesota, and even to the south in Dallas, Texas, the thermometer has shown readings of minus 13 degrees Celsius. In addition, it has snowed in subtropical northern Florida.
In addition, cold weather and snow have left more than a million consumers without electricity over the weekend. On Boxing Day, 65,000 households were still without power, reports CNN.
Traffic in the United States is also disrupted due to bad weather.
More than 2,800 flights were canceled on Christmas Day in the United States, around 3,500 flights had to be canceled on Christmas Eve and just under 6,000 flights on the eve.
Greyhound, the largest long-distance bus company in the United States, and Amtrak, the state train company, have also reported several schedule disruptions.
Sources: AFP, Reuters
26.12. at 18:31 Fixed. A lot of snow has fallen in New York State, not New York City.