A severe storm dumped heavy snow and freezing rain on large swaths of the eastern United States on Monday, disrupting travel and work for millions of Americans from the Ohio Valley to the capital, Washington.
About 300,000 people were without power from Missouri to Kentucky and Virginia, while more than 1,900 flights have been canceled and hundreds delayed, according to the website FlightAware.
The storm first hit the Midwest over the weekend, covering states like Kansas, Nebraska and Indiana with snow and ice. Blizzard conditions were reported in Missouri and Kansas, with up to 14 inches of snow expected in some areas. Strong winds, reaching 12 kilometers per hour, worsened the situation, making it dangerous for citizens and authorities to travel to deal with the emergency.
Temperatures are expected to plummet, in some places below zero degrees Fahrenheit (minus 18 degrees Celsius), while strong wind gusts add to the dangers. The mercury could drop several dozen degrees below seasonal norms as far as the US Gulf of Mexico coasts.
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The storm significantly disrupted air and rail transport
Operator Amtrak canceled more than 20 trains on Sunday and expects more cancellations on Monday. Nearly 200 flights have been canceled at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, Missouri, and delays are expected to extend nationwide. The combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain made roads treacherous, prompting authorities to advise against unnecessary travel.
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