Some 200 million people in more than thirty states are facing intense snow and ice as a historic storm sweeps across the United States.
A state of emergency has already been declared in South Carolina, Texas, and North Carolina ahead of the wintry weather.
Arctic air from Canada is moving south into the United States, bringing sub zero temperatures and freezing snow and rain to normally balmy states.
Residents in North Carolina have been urged to prepare and ‘have a plan’ in case the power cuts out.
‘Stay home and off the roads this weekend unless necessary, so first responders can do their jobs safely and effectively,’ Governor Josh Stein warned.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has told his residents to get food, fill up their petrol tanks and be prepared for power outages.
The wintry conditions could last until early next week, with record lows expected in Texas and Mississippi.
The National Weather Service said that ‘life-threatening’ cold air will move slowly east and could trigger widespread travel delays.
States which have declared a state of emergency are deploying National Guard Troops to mobilise response efforts.
Ryan Maue, a former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said: ‘I don’t know how people are going to deal with it.’
Southern states in particular are at risk, given the rarity of icy conditions and lack of supplies to tackle them.
‘If you get a half an inch of ice — or heaven forbid an inch of ice — that could be catastrophic,’ Keith Avery, CEO of the Newberry Electric Cooperative in South Carolina, told AP.
Airports in Dallas, Atlanta, Memphis and Charlotte are all expected to see flight cancellations or delays.
Grocery stores in many states are already selling out of basics like bread and milk as people stock up for the storm.
TikToker Megan Monroe-Evans shared a video of empty shelves in her local Alabama shop, observing: ‘The weather man mentioned a possibility of ice and snow and this is what we here in the south do… buy all the milk, bread and eggs.’
Forecasters have warned people to stay inside in areas which will get subzero temperatures, citing risks of hypothermia.
Experts said if you have to venture outside, wear layers of clothing and be sure to cover up extremities.
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