Record snowstorm hits US, paralyzing traffic

Meteorologists warn it could be the biggest snowstorm in a decade, with heavy snowfall, dangerous ice and temperatures plunging to -18°C in some areas.

The governors of Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Kentucky have declared states of emergency as the storm wreaks widespread havoc. Slippery roads and heavy snowfall have caused travel delays, including several serious accidents in Kansas and Missouri.

Kansas City International Airport was forced to temporarily suspend flight operations due to rapidly accumulating ice, causing dozens of flight delays.

Record snowfalls have hit eastern New York and Pennsylvania, with some 24 inches (60 centimeters) of snow falling. Meanwhile, in the Appalachians, the threat of freezing rain and snow continues to complicate matters, with millions of people potentially without power as icy power lines and trees fall.

Authorities are advising people to stay indoors and prepare for extreme weather conditions. Warming centers have been opened at churches and libraries across the mid-US to help people cope with the cold.

In Kentucky, where many communities have yet to fully recover from a deadly storm in September, Gov. Andy Beshear warned of prolonged power outages and severe disruptions in the coming days.

Scientists say climate change is one of the reasons extreme weather events like this storm are becoming more frequent and severe. Rapid warming of the Arctic is destabilizing the polar vortex, sending cold air down into the central and eastern United States.

Ngoc Anh (according to KTP, AFP, CNN)