Many US states issued a state of emergency as residents prepare for an ice storm. The cold front is expected to hit Texas and travel all the way to the northeastern cities of New York and Boston.
Some 160 million people in the United States were bracing for a massive winter storm due to affect the eastern two-thirds of the country starting Friday.
An ice storm was to hit Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma on Friday, passing through the midlands and reaching all the way to Washington, DC, New York and Boston on the east coast.
Forecasters warned the damage from the storm could rival a hurricane, especially in areas hit by ice.
What kind of disruptions are expected?
Thousands of power line workers were on standby, with the storm likely to cause power disruptions that could last days.
Five years ago, a severe cold snap hit the Texas power grid, taking out much of it and leaving millions without power for days. On Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed that won’t happen again, saying the power system “has never been stronger.”
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger told residents to prepare for days without power and potentially not being able to leave their neighborhoods.
Ice and snow tend to weigh down power lines, making them more likely to snap.
Airlines cancelled around 250 scheduled flights on Friday and 400 more on Saturday, with airports in Dallas, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Tulsa being among those worst hit so far.
Several schools were also closed on Fridays, with the expected drop in temperature increasing the risk of frostbite as children wait outside for school buses.
How are US states preparing for the emergency?
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp was among those who declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the storm.
Salt trucks patrolled roads from Oklahoma to Tennessee, treating them against snowfall.
Residents cleared shelves at shops and supermarkets to secure groceries and equipment to fight the cold.
In the suburbs of Louisville, Kentucky, a store manager told the AP news agency that de-icing products and snow shovels were selling fast as the storm “has people on edge.”
“I’ve heard a ton of people saying they don’t think they’re going to get in or out of their driveway if it does snow like they’re saying,” Matthew Isham said.
Edited by: Sean Sinico
DW News
