Washington/New York: A powerful winter storm has brought life to a standstill across large parts of the United States, leaving at least 30 people dead and millions without electricity as extreme cold, heavy snowfall, and icy rain continue to disrupt daily life.
According to international news agencies, the storm dumped more than one foot of snow from New Mexico to New England, covering major highways and forcing the suspension of road traffic in several regions.
States including New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and North Carolina have declared a state of emergency, while more than 25 US governors have issued emergency alerts to deal with the worsening situation.
Southern states, which rarely experience such extreme winter conditions, have also been hit hard. Thick ice and snow caused trees and power lines to collapse, triggering widespread power outages. In New York City, at least five people died due to extreme cold, while additional fatalities were reported in Texas, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania due to weather-related incidents.
The US National Weather Service said that although the storm system has moved past the East Coast, freezing Arctic air from Canada will keep temperatures below zero for several more days. Nearly 200 million Americans remain under some level of severe cold warning.
Air travel has also been severely affected. On Sunday, over 12,000 flights were cancelled, with thousands more grounded on Monday. Schools in several states have been closed, and authorities have shifted to online classes where possible.
Officials have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and take precautions as dangerously cold conditions persist.