Reuters
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
According to American media, the number of deaths from severe cold in large parts of the United States during the Christmas season has risen to more than 30. Some sources speculate at least 34 victims. The number should continue to rise.
Extreme winter weather covers a huge area, from the Great Lakes near Canada to the Mexican border. Deaths have been reported across the country, mostly from traffic accidents, but also from hypothermia, falling branches, or because emergency services failed to arrive in time for medical emergencies. There have been many deaths in Erie County, the area around Buffalo, but also in the state of Ohio there have been at least 10 fatalities.
The combination of high winds and lots of snow also makes it difficult for Americans and Canadians to travel:
Snow showers, travel stress and beautiful photos due to the cold in the United States and Canada
Due to the extreme weather conditions, the power cut out in some places. In Buffalo, in the state of New York, in particular, thousands of homes were left without electricity and today in some places the snow was more than a meter deep. Tens of thousands of homes also lost power in several places in Maine and North Carolina. More than 1,700 U.S. flights have been canceled as of noon.
The cold weather also leads to unusual situations in the southern United States. In Jackson, Mississippi, residents were told to boil their tap water due to burst pipes. In Tampa, Florida, temperatures dropped below freezing for the first time in five years, prompting cold-blooded iguanas to fall out of trees, among other things.
Current temperatures are not great for the US. However, the winter chill before Christmas is quite remarkable, making it big news for the American media. Also, winter weather is rare to occur in such a large area. About 60 percent of all Americans have experienced extreme weather warnings in recent days.
