Khaberni - The United States, and specifically the northeastern coastal regions, are experiencing total paralysis due to a snowstorm described as the fiercest in 10 years, amid stringent security and service measures in the most affected states.
The storm, expected to be ranked among the top 10 worst storms in New York, has led to the declaration of a state of emergency and a complete paralysis in air and ground movement, cutting off power to hundreds of thousands of residents.
US authorities have reported the cancellation of about 3,000 flights in New York and other northeastern areas.
The most affected states
Al Jazeera's correspondent Ehab Al-Abssi reports that Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York are the most affected by the storm.
Al-Abssi explained that the classification of the storm as "Blizzard," or officially known as a "fierce snowstorm," came due to its meeting strict technical conditions, which included continuous snowfall for more than 3 hours, strong winds approaching a speed of 60 kilometers per hour, and a severe lack of visibility, necessitating exceptional emergency measures.
Massive power outage
Al Jazeera correspondent Bisan Abu Kuwaik stated that the storm caused widespread electricity outages, especially in New Jersey and Massachusetts, affecting more than 200,000 people.
Abu Kuwaik noted that New York City experienced a complete halt in air navigation and the closure of bridges and schools, along with a curfew imposed on vehicles.
Regarding the end of the storm, the Al Jazeera correspondent confirmed that forecasts indicate that the snowfall will stop by the afternoon of Monday (New York time), but she warned that street cleaning operations and road re-openings might take several days due to the unprecedented snow accumulation not seen for many years.
About a month ago, the United States suffered from another snowstorm (Fern) that hit Texas in the south to New England in the north, causing significant damage across the states and prompting about 20 states to declare a state of emergency and alert residents to prepare for the worst.
