A severe winter storm has struck the United States, one of the most serious in recent years. "Fern" has covered vast areas, causing heavy snowfall, icing, mass power outages, and significant disruptions to the transportation system, local media report.
Since the beginning of last week, heavy snowfall and low temperatures have caused overloads in the power grids, resulting in over a million residents being left without electricity, especially in southern and central states such as Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
Power outages have been primarily caused by downed wires due to snow and ice on power lines. Restoration of electricity in several regions is complicated by ongoing adverse weather conditions, which meteorologists predict will persist for several more days.
The transportation system has also been affected by the storm: over 14,000 flights have been canceled or delayed, marking the largest disruption in aviation since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest number of cancellations has been observed at airports in cities such as New York, Washington, and Dallas.
More than 20 states have declared a state of emergency.
In New York, where snow accumulation has reached up to one and a half meters in some areas, schools are closed, and government agencies have switched to remote work. The National Guard has been deployed to address the aftermath of the storm.
According to the latest reports, at least seven people have died as a result of the storm. Fatalities related to cold and extreme weather conditions have been recorded in several states, including New York and Louisiana.
The National Weather Service warns of continued snowfall, icing, and abnormally low temperatures expected across much of the country in the coming days.
