Wednesday, February 12, 2014

US faces 'catastrophic' ice storm

US 'catastrophic' ice storm rolls north

A pedestrian battled the snow and wind in Sanford, North Carolina on 11 February 2014 Residents in North Carolina may face up to 1ft (30cm) of snow

A "catastrophic" ice storm wreaking havoc in the American South is now poised to pummel the eastern seaboard, say forecasters.

Nearly 100,000 people are without power in Georgia, Texas and North and South Carolina and 2,600 flights have been cancelled due to ice and strong winds.

Nearly empty roadways were reported as many heeded warnings to stay indoors.

North Carolina and Virginia are bracing for up to 1ft (30cm) of snow as the storm rolls north.

Two Alabama department of transportation employees worked to free a sand truck from highway 176 around Little River Canyon on 11 February 2014 Workers struggle to free a sand truck in Alabama amid heavy snow and ice

It is predicted to drop up to 8in of snow in Washington DC and up to 10in in New York overnight.

At least five traffic accident deaths were blamed on ice in Texas and Mississippi.

The National Weather Service said it was an event of "historical proportions", drawing comparisons with similar weather systems that struck the Atlanta area in 2000 and 1973.

A woman walked down a snowy street in Greenville, Mississippi, on 11 February 2014 A woman braves the snow and ice in Greenville, Mississippi
A woman pulled her dog through the snow in Cullman, Alabama on 11 February 2014 A woman pulls her dog through the snow after bringing lunch to her husband in Alabama
Jordan Larson-Horstman and her daughter Jane, 4, build a snowman in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 11 February 2104 A mother and her four-year-old daughter build a snowman in Charlotte, North Carolina

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