Image copyright Off-Road Adventures/via REUTERS Image caption A snow storm struck the US south-eastern states over the weekend

A heavy snowstorm has swept through US south-eastern states, killing at least three people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

A state of emergency has been declared in North Carolina, with some areas reporting as much as 0.5m (18.5ins) of snow over the weekend.

One man died after a tree fell on his car. A search is under way for a driver whose vehicle was found in a river.

Thousands of flights were also cancelled across the region.

Image copyright Twitter/Bryce Sigmon/via REUTERS Image caption A boathouse in North Carolina destroyed by the storm

'A dangerous system'

Snow, sleet and freezing rain continues to impact the South.

At a news conference on Monday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said "a year's worth of snowfall fell in some places in a day".

More than 300,000 people were affected by electricity outages in the Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia on Sunday, while storm warnings remained in place in the south-east "especially North Carolina and Virginia", the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a tweet.

The storm was expected to move off the coast on Monday, although the NWS's lead forecaster Michael Schichtel warned it would continue to be "a dangerous system".

"It's slow to move off the Carolinas but a saving grace is that it won't hit New England," he told Reuters news agency.

Image copyright Rod Wilbourn/via REUTERS Image caption Snow hits a porch in Banner Elk, North Carolina

In some areas, so much snow fell the weight brought power lines crashing down.

But the main danger appeared to be on the roads.

Almost 60 crashes were reported in Virginia, state police told local media, with the number rising to 672 in North Carolina as of Monday morning.

NWS officials warned of black ice forming on roads on Monday and into Tuesday.

Gov Cooper emphasised that the roads could "turn into ice rinks" even as the storm passes.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Hundreds of road accidents were reported

On Monday, the governor confirmed three storm-related deaths, saying the snow "turned into a nightmare and tragedy".

A man was killed in a suburb of Charlotte when a tree fell on his car. A second person was taken to hospital following the accident, WRAL.com said.

A woman receiving hospice care in the western part of the state also died during the storm.

Near Winston-Salem, another individual died of a heart condition on the way to a shelter, according to the governor's office.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A snow storm struck the US south-eastern states over the weekend

Gov Cooper urged residents to check on their loved ones and neighbours, particularly senior citizens.

The North Carolina National Guard remains active. The troops rescued 20 people in Wilkesboro, Brig Gen Todd Hunt said at the news conference, and continue to assist with road clearing and traffic accidents.

Several hundred miles east, in Kinston, divers were searching for another driver, whose tractor-trailer apparently crashed into the Neuse River.

Officials were alerted after debris was spotted on a bridge over the river, ABC12 said.</s>A winter storm unleashed snow and freezing rain on large swath of the southern United States on Saturday and threatened to bring treacherous conditions to the East Coast.

Approximately 25 million people in 13 states could be impacted by the snow and rain. Across the United States, nearly 800 flights were canceled and nearly 10,000 were delayed, according to flight tracking website Flight Aware.

A state of emergency was declared in North Carolina and Virginia as the winter storm, which was over parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee as of Saturday afternoon, continued to head east.

During a press conference, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned that the state anticipated the storm could cause up to half a million power outages.

"Tonight and tomorrow, it’s time to hunker down and stay safe ... this weekend is not the time to see a winter wonderland," Cooper said.

Along the southern side of the storm, flooding was a concern in warmer states, from southeastern Texas to parts of Georgia.

Approximately 14 million people were under winter weather advisories across the southern and eastern United states. Winter storm warnings were in effect along the northern side of the storm, including in parts of western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, upstate South Carolina, eastern Tennessee, southern West Virginia, and northeastern Georgia, according to the National Weather Service.

The heaviest snowfall, which is expected to begin Saturday and continue until Monday, will affect northwest North Carolina and southern Virginia, according to the NWS

Prior to moving east, the storm had already dropped several inches of snow in southern states. In Lubbock, Texas, approximately 9.5 inches of snow had fallen as of 9 a.m. CST (10 a.m. ET) on Saturday, according to the NWS.

The Texas Department of Transportation warned travelers to drive with caution, and advised people to stay home if possible.

In other parts of Texas, flood watches were canceled following heavy rainfall from the storm.</s>Forecasted Winter Weather Conditions in the Southeastern United States may impact travel to/from/through the destination(s) listed below. Check flight status frequently for up-to-the-minute info about your flight plans, or get updates sent directly to your mobile device or by email with One-Time Flight Notification.</s>Over the past month in Michigan, It has been colder than average with more snow than average. An index developed to track how current winter conditions compare to other winters shows this early winter has been severe to extreme across much of Michigan.

The Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI) was developed to combine snow, cold and duration of those weather conditions to quantify how severe a winter feels. The index factors in the specific location for ranking severity. Marquette, MI could have much more snow than Detroit, MI and still be experiencing a mild winter while Detroit has an extreme winter. The results are based on what locals typically experience.

The AWSSI is showing all Michigan cities it ranks in either extreme (purple) or severe (blue). The exception is Detroit, colored in yellow, meaning it has experienced an average severity of winter so far.

The information is then broken down into individual sites. The AWSSI incorporates the length of winter by using some temperature levels to start the winter clock ticking. Obviously we’ve had the timer ticking on winter already.

Just above is a current example using Saginaw. The winter conditions have added up enough to put Saginaw in the extreme category for winter up to this point. Notice though how quieter winter weather this past week has allowed the AWSSI to drift toward the lesser severe category, and average isn’t that far off. The difference between the degree of severity categories is small now since winter is early. Notice how the spreads widen later in winter.

Here’s a link to click on your city and see how winter is pacing in severity.

Detroit has an average winter so far. Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Houghton Lake are pacing at a severe winter. Saginaw, Alpena, Sault Ste Marie and Marquette have all experienced an extreme early winter, according to the AWSSI.

With the milder, quieter weather coming over the next two weeks, the severity categories at all locations will move more toward average. Detroit could even drop into the mild winter category by Christmas.

If you thought you were feeling very wintry already, you are correct if you go along with the AWSSI. And I do feel it’s a good index to quantify how severe a winter is at a location.</s>Dear Reader, As you can imagine, more people are reading The Jerusalem Post than ever before. Nevertheless, traditional business models are no longer sustainable and high-quality publications, like ours, are being forced to look for new ways to keep going. Unlike many other news organizations, we have not put up a paywall. We want to keep our journalism open and accessible and be able to keep providing you with news and analyses from the frontlines of Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.





Dec 9 (Reuters) - A powerful winter storm that struck the U.S. Southeast over the weekend killed at least one motorist, left more than 310,000 customers without power and forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights on Sunday.

A winter storm warning remained in effect for most of North Carolina, Virginia and southern West Virginia as at least an additional 2 inches (5 cm) of snow and sleet were expected to fall overnight and into Monday after more than a foot (30 cm) of snow fell over the weekend.Authorities reported hundreds of spinouts and collisions across the region as snow, sleet and freezing rain covered roadways across the region on Sunday.Divers searched for a driver whose 18-wheeler was found in a river in Kinston, North Carolina on Sunday morning, a NBC affiliate in Raleigh reported. WRAL-TV also reported that a driver was killed outside of Charlotte when a tree fell on a car.More than 310,000 customers were without power in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Virginia on Sunday evening, Poweroutage.us reported.The storm prompted more than 1,000 flight cancellations at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, the sixth-busiest airport in the country, and other airports across the region, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said on Sunday that the state of emergency would remain in effect and that the North Carolina National Guard had been activated to help with the response.The effects of the storm could last for days in the state, officials warned.In North Raleigh, residents woke up to several inches of snow that blanketed roads, cars and homes. Many people took to Twitter to share photos of the unusually harsh weather, and the hashtag #Snowmageddon2018 was trending on Twitter on Sunday morning.In South Carolina, snow gave way to sleet and rain as temperatures hovered around freezing, the South Carolina Emergency Management Division said on Twitter.The storm formed earlier this week off the Texas coast and moved east, lashing parts of Arkansas and Tennessee with icy rain.

Join Jerusalem Post Premium Plus now for just $5 and upgrade your experience with an ads-free website and exclusive content. Click here>></s>A massive winter storm containing rain, sleet, and snow is sweeping the southeastern United States, leaving more than 300,000 without power and 1,500 flights canceled.

Governors in several states—including Virginia, North Carolina, and Oklahoma—declared a state of emergency before winter storm Diego hit to allow use of state funding and resources to combat the increasing threat of icy roads, heavy snowfalls, and power outages.

The National Weather Service (NWS) tweeted Sunday morning that heavy snow would fall across southern Virginia and the western and central parts of North Carolina and freezing rain would “develop” over South Carolina:

The storm, which is expected to last until Monday, has wreaked havoc upon commuters traveling on the road and in the air, with many people reporting hazardous driving conditions and canceled flights:

Forecasters predict that North Carolina could receive up to 12 inches of snow in the more mountainous areas of the state, and coastal areas of the southeast could see flooding.

The city of Lubbock, Texas, received more than ten inches of snowfall, one of the highest recorded totals on record for the area.

State officials have warned residents to stay off the roads and put together emergency kits to weather the storm,

“Virginians should take all necessary precautions to ensure they are prepared for winter weather storm impacts,” said Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

“This weekend isn’t the time to head out to see the winter wonderland. Stay safe where you are. Getting out on dangerous roads could put your life at risk,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said, urging residents to be vigilant about the changing weather conditions.

Airlines and power companies are also on alert as the storm develops throughout the country. Power companies are forecasting massive storm-related power outages, and airlines have preemptively canceled flights.

The largest electric company in North Carolina, Duke Energy, predicted the state would have more than 500,000 power outages, and American Airlines announced that it canceled nearly 1,000 flights scheduled for Sunday ahead of the storm.</s>Mastering your thermostat could save you a bundle this winter</s>(CNN) — A winter storm tearing through the Southeast threatens to keep residents stuck at home with days of dangerous driving conditions, canceled flights and power outages.

Sunday will bring more than 12 inches of snow to the southern and central Appalachians, the National Weather Service said. Snowfall could total 12 to 20 inches over the Appalachians and into the Carolinas by Monday — when the storm is expected to move off the coast, the agency said.

“Snowfall amounts in some locations will likely exceed a foot and result in several days of difficult or impossible travel, extended power outages, and downed trees,” the agency said.

The storm has knocked out power for 216,578 customers in the southeastern United States. The bulk of the outages are in North Carolina, where 102,383 customers don’t have power while in South Carolina it’s 52,191. About 62,000 don’t have power in both Alabama and Georgia.

More than 1,000 Sunday flights into and out of North Carolina’s Charlotte Douglas International Airport have been canceled, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

The airport is the second-largest hub of American Airlines, which has “reduced its operations” because of the weather, the airport said.

American Airlines and its regional partners canceled 225 flights Saturday, 1,100 for Sunday and 300 for Monday, the airline said in a statement.

The Charlotte airport said it expects scattered cancellations through Monday morning, with the majority expected to be of small, regional planes.

About 13 million people remain under winter weather alerts in Arkansas, Tennessee and the Carolinas. The governors of Virginia and North Carolina have declared states of emergency.

The National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg measured 2.5 inches of snow as of 4:30 a.m. Sunday. A half an hour later, the Greenville County Emergency Management’s Twitter page said that 14,189 customers were without power.

Meanwhile, in North Carolina, authorities declared a statewide emergency Friday ahead of the storm.

“Snow may be beautiful but it can also be treacherous and I urge North Carolinians to take this storm seriously and get ready for it now,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement.

Many churches in the Charlotte area have preemptively canceled Sunday services, CNN affiliate WSOC reported, and the city of Charlotte is prepping emergency shelters. Grocery store shelves have been cleared of bread, milk and other staples.

“This storm comes at a time of year when North Carolinians are usually hearing carols about snow, not actually seeing it. But this time, the real thing is headed our way and North Carolina is getting prepared,” Cooper, the North Carolina governor, said, according to WSOC in Charlotte. “A winter storm’s not a Christmas carol snow. It’s serious, and you need to take steps now to get your family ready.”

Before moving east, the moisture-heavy storm walloped Texas, causing downpours and flash flooding along the southern edge of the state and snow and ice in the north. As the moisture moves eastward, it is colliding with a high-pressure system over the Ohio Valley that is funneling cold air into the region.

“It’s kind of a big deal,” CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar said. “It’s December. This is not the time of year that they would typically get this stuff.”

Houston experienced flooding after 4 to 6 inches of rain fell on Friday night, with some drivers forced to abandon their cars on major highways, reported CNN affiliate KTRK.

After the heavy rain in Lubbock, Texas, many community activities were disrupted. The city holiday parade was postponed and Texas Tech rescheduled all Saturday final exams until Sunday, CNN affiliate KCBD reported.

Lubbock also saw 10 inches of snow — 2 inches more than the city usually gets in a whole year.

“They crushed their yearly average in 24 hours,” CNN meteorologist Ivan Cabrera said.

The Lubbock Police Department tweeted late Saturday that black ice and freezing fog were beginning to form on areas of Interstate 27. Police said they were “working about 20 wrecks due to these dangerous conditions.”</s>U.S. winter storm knocks out power to 190,000 in North Carolina

A powerful winter storm that hit the U.S. Southeast over the weekend knocked out power for more than 190,000 customers in North Carolina, officials said on Sunday.</s>The staff of Community Services from South Boston’s Police Station C-6 brings winter coats – generously supplied by the Stone Foundation – to the Paraclete Center on E Street. These will keep their students warm all this winter long.

Thank you, and Merry Christmas.
Severe winter storms in the southeastern United States kill three people and leave 310,000 others without power.