[２３日 ロイター] – Severe winter storms swept across the United States on the 23rd, just ahead of the Christmas holidays, issuing extreme weather warnings for more than two-thirds of households. At least three people died as tourists were stranded and households and businesses were hit with blackouts.
A severe cold wave that has spread from Texas to Montana has begun to head east, with weather advisories issued to more than 240 million homes, according to the National Weather Service (NMS). Hard ice advisories have been issued for some southern states, including Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said two people died in a car accident in Kentucky and one homeless person died.
Heavy snowfall is expected in parts of Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York in the north, with more than 35 inches of snow expected in Buffalo, New York.
About 1.5 million homes and businesses in the United States were without power on Friday, according to PowerOutage.US, a website that provides information about power outages in the United States.
More than 4,000 domestic flights were also canceled on Monday, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed ground holding orders and delays at many U.S. airports due to deicing. “The harsh winter climate as we migrate northeast across the Great Lakes will have a significant impact on our operations,” he said.
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) has canceled dozens of trains through Christmas.
Winter storms slow across Canada, officials warn citizens to stay indoors. Strong winds, freezing rain and heavy snow caused schools to close, as well as power outages and flight cancellations.