A powerful winter storm hit the United States on Wednesday and is expected to sweep the country from west to east, bringing heavy snowfall that is making travel difficult in many areas.
From the Pacific coast to the Great Lakes, a large part of the country has been hit by blizzards which are expected to dump up to 60 centimeters of snow in places.
As a result, air traffic was largely disrupted and more than a hundred thousand people were deprived of electricity.
In addition to the northern part of the country, accustomed to heavy snowfall, other more unexpected areas, including parts of southern California are subject to a snow alert.
Near the Great Lakes in the north of the country, a "historic winter storm (which) will likely make travel impossible" due to snowfall and winds between 55 and 70 kilometers per hour, warned the US Weather Service (NWS).
"If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle for emergencies. Travel should be limited to emergencies only," the NWS advised. "If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stuck, stay in your vehicle."
At 00:00 GMT, more than 1,550 flights to or from the United States had been canceled, according to the specialized site Flightaware. Denver Airport in Colorado was particularly affected.
Road traffic was also difficult, especially in Wyoming, where authorities estimated that "multi-day closures are likely on highways and secondary roads" in this northwestern state.
About 280,000 homes were without power across the country, according to the PowerOutage website, including in Michigan, where snow and freezing rain froze power lines, leaving them vulnerable to gusts of wind.
An exceptional blizzard warning was issued for the mountains around Los Angeles starting Thursday morning. The region should expect snowfall sometimes from 300 meters above sea level.
"Cold and dangerous" according to local NWS services, the winter storm is expected to remain in the region "much of the week".
“Strong and potentially destructive winds are also expected,” meteorologists also warned.
In addition to the mountains, some hills could thus see their snowy peaks.
"Almost everyone in California will be able to see snow (...) during the week if they look in the right direction", summed up climatologist Daniel Swain on Twitter.
Temperatures below normal in Southern California remain very bearable, however, unlike the central and northern United States where the mercury could reach -34°C.
And while the West and the North are shivering, the eastern part of the country is experiencing an unusual heat episode. Ohio and the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard should expect temperatures about 4 degrees above seasonal averages.
"Temperatures...will be more like June than February," the NWS said.
02/23/2023 01:54:25 - Los Angeles (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
