At least 25 deaths have been reported and more than 750,000 homes remained without power Monday in the northeastern United States due to the final passage of a winter storm that has wreaked havoc on a 2,100-kilometer stretch from Arkansas to New England.The heavy snowfall, which exceeded 30 centimeters in several states, paralyzed traffic, forced the cancellation of flights and caused the suspension of classes in numerous districts.
The National Weather Service reported that areas north of Pittsburgh received up to 50 centimeters of snow and recorded thermal sensations of up to -31 ℃ since Monday night.The fatalities include two people hit by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, teenagers killed in sledding accidents in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman found under the snow in Kansas after being last seen leaving a bar.In New York, authorities said at least eight people were found dead outdoors over the weekend.
The southern region of the country concentrated most of the power outages, especially in northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee, where ice accumulation from freezing rain caused branches and power lines to fall.
In Mississippi, authorities distributed cots, blankets, bottled water and generators to supply warming stations in the most affected areas, following the worst ice storm since 1994. At the University of Mississippi, the lack of power forced the cancellation of classes for the entire week, while the Oxford campus remained covered in ice and with extensive material damage.
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In New England, forecasts called for light to moderate snow through Monday night.New York City recorded its snowiest day in years, with 28 centimeters in Central Park.Although the main roads were clear, several pedestrians had to walk on snow-covered sidewalks and some elevated subway lines suffered delays.
The extreme cold spread over much of the United States, with temperatures below zero in the central, southern and northeastern regions.The national average hit -12.3℃, the lowest since January 2014, according to former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) chief scientist Ryan Maue.Record heat in Florida prevented records from falling further.
In the Nashville, Tennessee, area, thousands of homes regained power, although more than 170,000 people remained without power after spending the night in subfreezing temperatures.Many hotels reached capacity to accommodate residents who temporarily abandoned their homes.Alex Murray booked a room to keep the breast milk needed for his six-month-old daughter, anticipating a long wait for service to be restored.
Deaths associated with the storm were distributed across several states.In addition to the aforementioned victims, authorities reported deaths in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Mississippi and New Jersey, confirming the national reach of the effects of the winter storm.
(With information from AP)
