Mammoth 'Snowzilla' Blizzard Blankets Eastern US
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A deadly blizzard with bone-chilling winds and potentially record-breaking snowfall slammed the eastern US Saturday as officials urged millions in the storm's path to seek shelter, warning the worst is yet to come.
US news reports said at least eight people had died by early Saturday from causes related to the monster snowstorm, which is expected to last until early Sunday.
Forecasters predict the storm could dump more than two feet (61 centimeters) of snow in Washington, DC and the surrounding area by late Saturday, bringing life to a wintry halt as residents ride out the rough weather.
"The real teeth of this #winterstorm will be after midnight thru early Sat afternoon. Heavy snow, increasing winds, lightning threat," the National Weather Service (NWS) tweeted, AFP reprted.
A blizzard warning was in effect for a large swath of the eastern United States from Washington up to New York.
The storm is expected to affect about 85 million Americans -- about one quarter of the inhabitants of the United States. Before it's all over, it could cause more than $1 billion in damage, NWS officials said.
Several southern states, meanwhile, were already hit by snow and sleet -- unusual for the region -- with tens of thousands without power.
Frantic shoppers emptied grocery store shelves in preparation for the storm, dubbed "Snowzilla" by some US media, and schools and government offices in Washington were all closed.
"I think it's going to be a disaster," Sharonda Brown, a nurse, said as she waited for an Uber car with a full cart of groceries at a Washington supermarket stormed by shoppers.
Winds were expected to pick up overnight, prompting Washington's police chief Cathy Lanier to urge residents to stay indoors.
