At least five people have died and dozens more have been injured in the United States due to a snowstorm that began over the weekend.
The severe weather has affected vast areas from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), more than 60 million people are at risk. The agency states that some regions have experienced the heaviest snowfall in the last decade.
A polar vortex bringing freezing temperatures, snowfall, and ice rain has led to widespread school closures, traffic chaos, and power outages.
Emergency declarations have been made in seven U.S. states since Monday:
- Maryland,
- Virginia,
- West Virginia,
- Kansas,
- Missouri,
- Kentucky
- and Arkansas.
The National Guard has been deployed to assist stranded motorists.
According to American media, four people have died in road accidents. NBC News reported that another man suffered fatal injuries while shoveling snow in Jackson County, Missouri.
On Tuesday, up to 190,000 homes remained without power and heating.
More than 2,500 flights have been canceled, and about 9,000 have been delayed due to the extreme weather.
Weather forecasts predict that wet snow will continue to fall throughout the day across much of the northeastern United States.