Seven US states have declared a state of emergency due to a winter storm caused by cold Arctic air penetrating deep into the continent. The severe weather affected a swath from New Jersey to Kansas. Up to 70 million people will be affected by the storm.
Blizzards accompanied by snowfall are expected in this area. The height of the snow cover can be up to 35 centimeters. Residents of several states are advised not to go outside. Meteorologists call the current storm the strongest in the last decade.
In the United States, 1,700 flights have been canceled and hundreds of schools have been closed. Many roads are blocked, including in Washington, where a joint meeting of both houses of the US Congress is scheduled to take place on January 6 to confirm the results of the presidential election.