A massive winter storm is sweeping across the southern United States, bringing record-breaking snowfall to some cities, with the heaviest snowfall in decades, ABC News reported.
On January 10, local time, 20 states, from Texas to Delaware, were under snow and ice warnings as the storm continued to move through the southern US. The storm forced governors to declare a state of emergency in many states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas to prepare for severe weather conditions.
Some states saw up to 12 inches (30cm) of snow during the storm. Arkansas saw 14 inches (35cm) of snow, while Little Rock recorded 7 inches (18cm) — its heaviest snowfall in four years.
Parts of Oklahoma and Texas also recorded 30cm of snow, while Oklahoma City recorded a one-day record of 9cm; Amarillo, Texas, received up to 24cm - the most snow in the past 10 years.
Mississippi recorded 18cm of snow, while Alabama received 15cm and snow continued to fall in these states. Birmingham, Alabama, received 5cm of snow, the most in the past 11 years.
Memphis, Tennessee, recorded 18cm of snow, the most snow in a single day in 40 years.
Warming stations have been activated across Georgia as the state experiences sub-freezing temperatures. Warming stations in North Georgia were near capacity as of the morning of January 10, Governor Brian Kemp said. He also advised residents seeking shelter to head south rather than north.
The storm also severely affected travel, with more than 3,000 flights canceled nationwide as of the afternoon of January 10, with airports in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas and Nashville the hardest hit. Officials warned of hazardous travel conditions due to snow and ice on roads.
Many schools in Atlanta and Memphis were closed on January 10 due to the severe weather. Snow and ice were forecast to continue to spread to the Carolinas and the East Coast on January 11. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts that in the afternoon and night of January 11, cold air will continue to strengthen and affect some places in the South Central region.
From January 11-13, in the North and Thanh Hoa - Nghe An area, the weather will be very cold, especially in the mountainous and midland areas of the North, the weather will be very cold; in the area from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai, the weather will be very cold.
The lowest temperature in this cold air mass in the North and Thanh Hoa - Nghe An region is generally 9-12 degrees, in the mountainous areas of the North 6-9 degrees, in the high mountainous areas below 3 degrees in some places; in the Ha Tinh - Quang Binh region it is generally 13-16 degrees; in the area from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai 15-18 degrees.
Hanoi area from January 11-13, the weather is very cold. The lowest temperature in this cold air mass is commonly 9-12 degrees.
