New Jersey, February 01: A massive winter storm coupled with strong winds has struck much of the United States, sweeping through the western Rocky Mountains to northeastern New England.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a blizzard warning and hazardous weather outlook on Monday for more than 25 states, AFP reported.
“A storm of this size and scope needs to be taken seriously,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, urging residents to prepare in earnest for snow, ice and cold. “It’s critical that the public does its part to get ready.”
Fugate also called on people in storm affected regions to “check on your neighbors, especially the elderly and young children — those who can be most vulnerable during emergencies.”
On Monday, freezing rain shut down scores of schools and government offices in the Midwest.
Roads are expected to become potentially dangerous and downpour is threatening to topple power lines.
Airlines have meanwhile warned of significant delays and cancellations.
Wind chills were forecast to drop to 30 to 50 degrees centigrade below zero in Colorado, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Kansas, Idaho and even parts of Texas.
Officials have called on Chicago residents to stock up on food and medicine in advance of the blizzard, which could be the biggest since a snowstorm froze the city in 1967.
Elsewhere in Denver, snowfall caused wrecks and traffic snarls. Flights were also delayed at the city’s international airport because of poor weather conditions.
Meteorologists in the United States expect the worst of the storm on Tuesday.
——–Agencies