First modification: 26/12/2022 – 20:48Last modification: 26/12/2022 – 20:47
Washington (AFP) – The United States, devastated in recent days by a ferocious snowstorm that leaves at least 47 dead in nine states, has suffered other deadly storms in the last 30 years:
cold wave of 2021
From February 13 to 19, 2021, a cold snap hit the United States from the East Coast to the West Coast, passing through Texas and Louisiana to the south, regions with generally mild temperatures.
The intense cold caused the death of at least 70 people in the country, according to US media, and millions of homes were left without electricity.
The cold snap also killed at least six people in northern Mexico.
“Snowzilla” en 2016
From January 22 to 24, 2016, Snowstorm Jonas, nicknamed “Snowzilla”, affected the East Coast of the United States and particularly New York, killing at least 33 people.
More than 11,000 flights were cancelled.
New York had its second-heaviest snowfall on record, with more than 27 inches falling on Central Park, while Dulles International Airport outside Washington was buried under 22 inches of snow.
2007 cold snap
In mid-January 2007, a cold snap accompanied by freezing rain and snowfall caused 42 motor vehicle deaths in a few days in Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, New York, and Maine.
“Blizzard 1996”
From January 7 to 9, 1996, a snowstorm caused several dozen deaths on the east coast of the United States, the majority in traffic accidents.
The storm, dubbed “Blizzard 1996” by the media, was followed by another a few days later, followed by flooding.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the “1996 Blizzard” caused 154 direct and indirect deaths during January of that year.
“Storm of the Century” 1993
On March 13 and 14, 1993, the so-called “Storm of the Century” claimed 270 lives in the United States, according to the NWS.
Added to this were 48 missing aboard two cargo ships that sank: one Liberian off Nova Scotia (Canada) and another Honduran off Florida.
The states of Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, North Carolina and Alabama were the most affected by the storm, which paralyzed the east coast of the United States for almost 48 hours. There were also five deaths in Canada, three in Cuba and five in international waters off Florida.
On the other hand, Florida recorded 50 tornadoes, waves of almost 30 feet on the coast and 4 feet of snow in some counties.
Snow and cold also reached the “deep south”: in Alabama 42 cm of snow fell and the thermometer marked -16 degrees Celsius.
Many people, usually elderly, died from the cold, aggravated by a freezing blizzard. Others died of heart attacks while trying to clear snow and ice in front of their homes.
© 2022 AFP