A severe winter storm has struck the USA, one of the most serious in recent times. Hurricane "Fern" has affected a significant part of the country, causing heavy snowfall, icing, mass power outages, and disruptions in the transportation system. This has been reported by local media.
Since the end of last week, heavy snowfall and a sharp drop in temperatures have overloaded the energy grids. More than a million people have been left without electricity, especially in southern and central states such as Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.
The causes of the outages are attributed to heavy snowfall and ice formation on power lines, leading to downed wires. Restoring power in several regions is complicated as meteorologists predict that adverse weather conditions will persist for several days.
The storm has also significantly impacted transportation. Over 14,000 flights have been canceled or delayed, marking the largest aviation disruption since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mass cancellations are observed at airports in major cities such as New York, Washington, and Dallas.
The situation is so serious that authorities in more than 20 states have declared a state of emergency.
In New York, where the snow cover exceeds half a meter, schools are closed, and state and municipal institutions have switched to remote work. The National Guard has been deployed to address the aftermath of the storm conditions.
According to the latest reports, the storm has resulted in the deaths of at least seven people. Fatalities due to cold and adverse weather conditions have been recorded in several states, including New York and Louisiana.
The National Weather Service warns that snowfall, icing, and abnormally low temperatures will persist over a significant part of the country in the coming days.
