The effects of an icy storm like you don’t see only once per generation “are felt, since this Thursday, December 22, in a large part of the United States. Authorities urge vigilance as thousands of Americans prepare to travel for Christmas.
Striking images of blizzards, impressive snowfalls, planes grounded… From the north of the country to Texas, in the south, Americans will spend Christmas in freezing cold. Extremely low temperatures are expected to continue throughout the Christmas weekend. According to the national weather service, the National Weather Service (NWS), the strength of this cold wave makes it called a ” storm occurring only once per generation “.
The Midwest and the Great Lakes region (towards Chicago) are among the areas most affected by this violent storm, where temperatures could reach as low as -55°C. The polar gusts will blow up to 80 km/h and risk causing possible tree falls and power cuts.
Then, the American president, Joe Biden, urged him: Please take this storm extremely seriously “. ” I encourage everyone (…) to listen to the warnings at the local level “, he added. Several states have already declared a state of emergency, such as Oklahoma, Kentucky, Georgia or North Carolina.
Closed routes and canceled flights
The authorities have warned: the conditions are extremely dangerous to move around. However, millions of Americans have to take the road or go to the airport for the holiday season. But roads are blanketed in snow across the country. Many accidents have already been reported, in particular because of the zero visibility due to the blizzard. I-90, a major highway through the north of the country, had to be closed in the state of South Dakota and authorities have warned that it will not reopen until Friday, December 23.
As of Thursday, Dec. 22, more than 5,500 flights were canceled and 24,000 were delayed, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.
Canada also affected
Canada also expects abnormally low temperatures for the season as well as heavy snowfall and possible freezing rain in some areas.
So the authorities, for example, encouraged residents of Quebec to ” prepare emergency plans and carry kits containing drinking water, food, medicine, a first aid kit and a flashlight “.
(With AFP)