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America Winter Storm: Crores of people in America are facing severe weather conditions. The situation had become very bad even before the winter storm. The situation can be gauged from the fact that more than 1800 flights have been cancelled. 15 states have declared state of emergency. At the same time, approximately 21 crore people are said to be affected by this.
America Winter Storm: In view of the winter storm in America, emergency has been declared in many states. Hundreds of flights have had to be cancelled. (File photo/Reuters) America Winter Storm: The worst winter storm of the decade has hit more than half of America, causing snowfall, hailstorm, freezing rain and record-breaking cold that has severely affected life. The Meteorological Department has warned that this storm can cause devastation in many states and its impact will be no less than that of a major storm or cyclone. More than 18 crore people are under the warning of snow and icy rain, while more than 21 crore people are on alert for extreme cold.
On Friday, freezing rain started in many parts of Texas, due to which the roads became slippery and the drivers had to face a lot of trouble. This storm is now moving towards Northeastern America through Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi Valley, where about one foot of snow is expected from Washington DC to New York and Boston. The National Weather Service (NWS) has said that snow and freezing rain in the southern plains and south-eastern states are likely to cause prolonged power outages and severe damage to trees and power lines.
Transport system collapsed
This severe weather has had a direct impact on transport services. According to flight tracking website FlightAware, more than 1,800 flights have been canceled so far and thousands of flights have been delayed. Major airports like Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta have been most affected. Many airlines, including Delta Airlines, have appealed to passengers to change their flights to a later date. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also warned that many airports may have to be temporarily closed.
Emergency in these 15 states
- alabama
- arkansas
- Georgia
- kansas
- kentucky
- louisiana
- maryland
- mississippi
- missouri
- new york
- North Carolina
- south carolina
- tennessee
- texas
- Virginia
School-college, office closed
Schools, colleges and offices are also being closed on a large scale. Schools in Chicago and several cities in the Midwest have canceled classes, while the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has announced the closure of all schools on Monday. Many universities have advised students to leave the campus and go to safe places. Churches and community organizations have decided to hold Sunday services online, while carnival parades in Louisiana have been canceled or postponed.
Winter storm watches, warnings, advisories and ice storm warnings are in place millions of Americas. Heavy snowfall is forecast from Oklahoma to the Northeast where over a foot of snow is possible for some locations through Monday.
