Khaberni - 18 U.S. states have declared a state of emergency due to a severe winter storm sweeping across the United States, causing the cancellation of thousands of flights and widespread disruption in transportation and services. The states that declared emergencies include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, in addition to the capital Washington, as reported by Russia Today.
The storm covers a wide geographical area affecting more than 180 million people, extending from New Mexico to Maine, with forecasts of heavy snowfall up to 12 inches in the Ohio Valley and the East Coast, along with heavy ice threatening the safety of roads and power grids.
Bad weather led to the cancellation of more than 2300 flights on Saturday, with thousands more flights expected to be canceled on Sunday, especially at Dallas and Atlanta airports.
Several airlines, including Delta, have announced flight suspensions in five states, working to automatically reschedule travelers.
In preparation, relief organizations have mobilized extensive resources, including the preparation of about 250,000 meals and 400,000 liters of water in Louisiana, along with deploying rescue teams on standby. Authorities decided to close schools and federal offices in Washington on Monday and urged citizens to avoid travel due to the risks of ice and frost.
A low-pressure system is expected to form in the southwest of the country, interacting with moisture coming from the Gulf of Mexico and cold air from the Arctic. Forecast models indicate that rain will begin today in the southern plains, with the system slowly moving eastward, accompanied by accumulated snow and ice. Despite ongoing changes in forecast models as the storm approaches, expected impacts include wide areas of the United States, from Arizona to Maine, according to meteorologists Rich Otto and Tony Fracasso from the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center.
According to meteorologist Scott Padgett, some areas of New York may experience snowfall ranging from 6 to 12 inches. Meanwhile, the polar vortex, which typically centers over the North Pole, is expected to move to the eastern half of the United States starting Thursday and continue until the first half of next week.
