Georgia, January 10: A huge snowstorm has pummeled the southern parts of the US, forcing cancellation of hundreds of flights and covering bridges and roads with freezing snow and rain.
Authorities in Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama declared states of emergency as a blast of snow began to fall on Sunday from Arkansas to north Mississippi, while other areas of the south saw freezing rain and sleet, the Associated Press reported.
In Louisiana and Alabama, authorities asked citizens to stay at home until the harsh weather subsides.
They also said that snow removal devices and salt spreaders have been deployed in the areas in order to clear the icy roads.
Meteorologists forecast the most extreme conditions in Mississippi and northern Louisiana over night with the possibility of icy weather and freezing rain.
Meanwhile, hundreds of flights were cancelled at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of the storm, while officials say another 1,600 flights will be canceled on Monday.
On Sunday, Delta Air Lines cancelled 330 flights and an additional 1,400 flights will be cancelled for Monday.
A spokesman with AirTran Airways said that the airline cancelled 14 flights on Sunday and another 270 for Monday.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport spokesman also said 200 flights, or about a quarter of the schedule, were cancelled in anticipation of the weather.
——–Agencies