Severe snowstorm hits central US

The US National Weather Service (NWS) announced on January 5 that a dangerous snow and ice storm with wind gusts of up to 72 km/h is affecting states in the central part of the country, causing difficulties for travel.

Some 62 million Americans are affected. According to AFP, a series of warnings have been issued from western Kansas to coastal states such as Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, with a total area affected reaching 2,400 km. "Some areas in the region could receive the heaviest snowfall in 10 years," the NWS said.

The storm is expected to directly impact Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Washington, Kansas City, Missouri, Omaha, Nebraska, St. Louis and Indianapolis in the coming days, according to NBC News. The Washington area could see up to 5 inches (12 centimeters) of snow or more, while neighboring areas could see up to 10 inches (25 centimeters).

Watch the snowstorm "bury" the city of Cincinnati in the US

The announcement came as police reported at least 135 crashes as the storm hit Virginia on January 5, leaving several people injured. Meanwhile, police in Missouri said they had received reports of nearly 600 stranded drivers and 285 crashes.

Forecasters say that starting on January 6, about two-thirds of the eastern United States will experience dangerously cold weather. Temperatures could be 12 to 25 degrees Celsius lower than normal. Scientists say that extreme weather events are becoming more serious in both frequency and intensity, partly due to climate change caused by human activities.

Photo taken in Cincinnati (Ohio, USA) on January 5

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bao-tuyet-du-doi-tan-cong-mien-trung-nuoc-my-18525010700152046.htm