U.S. hit by biggest storm since 60 years. 25 States affected

US hit by major snowstorm
Wednesday February 1, 2011
Source: France24
AFP - A massive winter storm began dumping fresh snow, ice and sleet across a huge swathe of the US early Tuesday, with bitter winds bringing an icy blast to some 100 million people, a third of the country.

High winds and freezing rain threatened to turn roads into deadly ice rinks and knock down trees and power lines and forecasts warned of dangerously cold temperatures.

Pre-dawn television footage showed heavy snow in the plains city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and lightning and sleet pounding Dallas, Texas.

A snow figure sits on a bench
in New York's Central Park.
A massive winter storm has begun
dumping fresh snow, ice and
sleet across a huge swathe of
the US, with bitter winds bringing
an icy blast to some 100
million people.

Blizzard, winter storm and freezing rain warnings were issued for more than half of the country's 50 states, from North Dakota and Colorado down to New Mexico, then up through Texas, Kansas and Missouri to the Great Lakes region and across Pennsylvania to New England.

For Chicago, the National Weather Service said that the "dangerous, multifaceted and life threatening winter storm" with high winds and heavy snowfall would make travel "impossible" at times.

It offered residents an ominous warning: "Do not travel!"

The agency also warned that shoveling sidewalks during such a significant snowfall can be deadly, noting that more than 40 died of heart attacks in the aftermath of a 1999 blizzard in Chicago.

"Do not underestimate the task at hand," it said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urged residents to prepare in earnest for the fury of the storm.

"A storm of this size and scope needs to be taken seriously," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, who warned that "it's critical that the public does its part to get ready."

A woman walks her dog in New York's
Central Park. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) urged residents
to prepare in earnest for the fury
of the storm as it barrels eastward
across the country.

Fugate urged residents in storm affected regions to "check on your neighbors, especially the elderly and young children -- those who can be most vulnerable during emergencies."

Scores of schools and government offices were already closed in anticipation of dangerous conditions.

Airport delays had already begun early Tuesday in the Midwest and Airlines had warned of significant travel interruptions, offering customers a chance to rebook flights at no fee.

The worst of the storm was expected Tuesday afternoon and evening as a large amount of moisture sucked up from the Gulf of Mexico feeds the huge system and is transformed into snow and thunderstorms.

Powerful winds and heavy snow could create white-out conditions and drifts as high as six to eight feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters).

"Lurking behind this impressive winter storm is a powerful shot of Arctic air as a frigid surface high drops down from central Canada," the National Weather Service warned.

Wind chills were forecast to drop to 30 to 50 below in Colorado, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Kansas, Idaho and even parts of Texas.

Officials warned the public to stay at home rather than try to brave the crippling and potentially record-breaking storm.

"It doesn't take a whole lot to make everything slick and if roads aren't treated they're going to get icy and then it's going to snow on top of that, which is going to make matters worse because you can't see the ice," Pat Slattery, a spokesman for the weather service, told AFP.

A woman navigates a large pile of snow
on Madison Avenue in New York on January 28.
A mammoth storm stretching from the US
heartland to the east coast is threatening
to dump mounds of fresh snow and ice on
an already winter-weary region,
weather forecasters said Monday.

"One of the concerns about the freezing precipitation is if it gets heavy and starts taking down power lines and trees because people have no way to keep their homes warm, and a bitter cold will follow right on the heels of the snow and freezing rain."

As much as 18 inches (45 centimeters) of snow was expected in the Chicago area and officials warned that plows would not be able keep the streets clear, making side streets impassable.

Gusts up to 60 miles per hour could also lead to flooding along the lake shore as waves build up to 25 feet.

Many other areas were predicted to get over a foot (30 centimeters) of snow.

"With weather systems like this it's not uncommon to see widespread power outages lasting for several days," said Joe Wainscott, head of Indiana's department of homeland security.

"While utility companies will be working as hard as they can to repair any outages, storms of this size and magnitude often make it very difficult to keep up."

The storm was to arrive just days after a rare thunder-snow storm paralyzed air and ground travel from Washington to Boston.

That storm blindsided the US capital at the height of the evening rush hour Thursday, not even sparing President Barack Obama, who faced travel delays upon returning from a day trip to the US Midwest.