Una potente tormenta con fuertes vientos y mucha nieve golpeaba este sábado el este de Estados Unidos, incluida la capital, mientras las autoridades urgían a millones de personas a buscar refugio, advirtiendo que lo peor estaba aún por llegar.
An electronic sign displays a blizzard warning over the Grand Central Parkway near New York’s Laguardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York City, January 22, 2016, as a winter storm approaches. REUTERS/Mike Segar
An electronic sign displays a blizzard warning over the Grand Central Parkway near New York’s Laguardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York City, January 22, 2016 as a winter storm approaches. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Crew members work on salt trucks as the snow begins to fall in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, D.C., threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. After days of planning by emergency officials and a scramble by residents to stock up on supplies, the blizzard got underway in the nation’s capital at about 1 p.m. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Commuters exit the Metrorail station as the snow begins to fall in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, D.C., threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. After days of planning by emergency officials and a scramble by residents to stock up on supplies, the blizzard got underway in the nation’s capital at about 1 p.m. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Commuters ride the Metrorail as the snow begins to fall in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, D.C., threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. After days of planning by emergency officials and a scramble by residents to stock up on supplies, the blizzard got underway in the nation’s capital at about 1 p.m. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Freshly fallen snow covers the area around the Washington Monument after snow began to fall in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
A uniformed Secret Service officer stands in the freshly fallen snow outside the White House in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Workers prepare to treat the steps of the U.S. Capitol with ice melting salt in Washington January 22, 2016. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible along the urban corridor extending from Washington to New York and Boston, the National Weather service said. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Workers clear falling snow from the East Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington January 22, 2016. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible along the urban corridor extending from Washington to New York and Boston, the National Weather service said. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
People gather to watch the falling snow at the U.S. Capitol in Washington January 22, 2016. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible along the urban corridor extending from Washington to New York and Boston, the National Weather service said. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Snow falls on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington January 22, 2016. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible along the urban corridor extending from Washington to New York and Boston, the National Weather service said. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Pigeon tracks mix with those of the human variety in the snow at Union Station in Washington January 22, 2016. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible along the urban corridor extending from Washington to New York and Boston, the National Weather service said. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Taxis wait for fares in the snow at Union Station in Washington January 22, 2016. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible along the urban corridor extending from Washington to New York and Boston, the National Weather service said. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
A member of the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service stands at his post in the snow at the White House in Washington January 22, 2016. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible along the urban corridor extending from Washington to New York and Boston, the National Weather service said. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
A woman walks in the snow after a winter storm arrived in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
A man walks in the snow after a winter storm arrived in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
A man cleans the entry way of a building after a winter storm arrived in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
People cross an empty street after a winter storm arrived in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
A woman pulls a child on a sled after a winter storm arrived in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. REUTERS/Carlos Barria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
A man walks in the snow after a winter storm arrived in Washington January 22, 2016. The leading edge of a monster snowstorm arrived on Friday afternoon in Washington, threatening to dump as many as 30 inches (76 cm) of powder on parts of the Middle Atlantic region and bring record accumulations to the U.S. capital. REUTERS/Carlos Barria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
People walk in the falling snow near the U.S. Capitol in Washington January 22, 2016. As much as 2 feet of snow is possible along the urban corridor extending from Washington to New York and Boston, the National Weather service said. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Los medios estadounidenses informaron que al menos ocho personas murieron en las últimas horas del viernes por causas relacionadas con la tormenta, que se espera que dure hasta el domingo y que ha sido apodada “Snowzilla” por la prensa.
Los meteorólogos advirtieron que la tormenta puede acumular la inusual cantidad de más de 60 centímetros de nieve sobre Washington y las áreas vecinas al final del sábado, y pidieron a los residentes de las zonas afectadas a mantenerse en sus hogares.
“Quiero ser muy clara con todos. Vemos esto como una tormenta mayor. Tiene implicaciones de vida o muerte”, declaró la alcaldesa de Washington, Muriel Bowser, a los periodistas.
La alerta es válida para una franja de la costa Atlántica estadounidense, desde Washington hasta Nueva York.
La tormenta afectaba a unos 85 millones de estadounidenses, una cuarta parte de la población del país, y podría causar daños por más de 1.000 millones de dólares, según funcionarios del servicio meteorológico nacional.
El gobernador de Nueva Jersey, Chris Christie, que aspira a ganar la nominación presidencial republicana, suspendió su campaña en New Hampshire para supervisar los esfuerzos de emergencia en su estado.
Christie suspendió los servicios de autobuses y trenes ligeros en Nueva Jersey desde la madrugada de este sábado, y comenzó a enviar mensajes por Twitter a los residentes para asegurarles que la crisis estaba bajo control.
“El mensaje global es que vamos a salir de esta tormenta. Siempre lo hacemos, es la manera en que hacemos las cosas en NJ” (Nueva Jersey), escribió el gobernador, quien ganó notoriedad nacional por su actuación en la emergencia causada por el huracán Sandy, en 2012.
Asimismo, varios estados situados más al sur fueron afectados por nevazones y granizos, inusuales en esa región, dejando a miles de personas sin electricidad al menos a 133.000 personas.
En Kentucky, cientos de camiones y otros vehículos se quedaron atascados en horas de la noche en las resbaladizas carreteras cubiertas de nieve y hielo.
A través de la costa atlántica, nerviosos compradores vaciaron los estantes de los supermercados en anticipación a la tormenta, que fue apodada “Snowzilla” por medios estadounidenses, una mezcla entre “snow” (nieve en inglés) y el nombre del enorme monstruo del cine “Godzilla”.
Además, todas las escuelas y oficinas públicas de Washington fueron cerradas.
Los fuertes vientos llevaron a la jefa de la policía de Washington, Cathy Lanier, a pedir a los residentes a mantenerse en sus hogares.
“Con el creciente viento y la acumulación de nieve, vamos a ver a más y más gente atrapada” en las rutas, dijo Lanier a la cadena CNN.
– Posponen lucha con bolas de nieve –
Miles de vuelos fueron cancelados por la tormenta, mientras las autoridades de Washington tomaron la inusual decisión de suspender los servicios de trenes y buses desde el viernes en la noche hasta el lunes en la mañana.
En caso de que las previsiones se confirmen, esta tormenta podría ser casi tan grave como la de 1922, con sus 71 centímetros de nieve y que dejó 100 muertos cuando se derrumbó el techo de un teatro ante el peso de la nieve acumulada.
La Policía del Capitolio dijo que había levantado una prohibición de décadas de usar trineos en sus escaleras, pero el edificio del Congreso, los monumentos nacionales y los famosos museos del Instituto Smithsonian permanecían cerrados.
Incluso una masiva pelea con bolas de nieve en el vecindario de la Rotonda Dupont en Washington, en la que unas 2.000 personas anunciaron en Facebook que participarían, tuvo que ser postergada del sábado al domingo debido a la ferocidad de la tormenta.
La nieve y aguanieve ya afectó a estados del sur, como Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Carolina del Norte, Virginia Occidental y Virginia.
Dieciocho estados de la Unión tienen alerta o aviso de tormenta, informó el canal Weather Channel.
Estamos teniendo muchos accidentes”, explicó el gobernador de Carolina del Norte, Pat McCrory, a CNN.
Esta tormenta que puso fin al que había sido hasta ahora un clemente invierno con temperaturas de 22 grados Celsius en la víspera de Navidad en Nueva York, la más alta desde que comenzaron los registros en 1871.
por Veronika OLEKSYN / Fanny ANDRE&/ AFP
People walk across the Brooklyn Bridge during a snowstorm in the Manhattan borough of New York January 23, 2016. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
People take a selfie photo during a snowstorm at Central Park in the Manhattan borough of New York January 23, 2016. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
A traffic sign is seen covered by frost during a winter storm in Washington January 23, 2016. A winter storm dumped nearly 2 feet (58 cm) of snow on the suburbs of Washington, D.C., on Saturday before moving on to Philadelphia and New York, paralyzing road, rail and airline travel along the U.S. East Coast. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
A woman uses an ironing board as a sled during a winter storm in Washington January 23, 2016. A winter storm dumped nearly 2 feet (58 cm) of snow on the suburbs of Washington, D.C., on Saturday before moving on to Philadelphia and New York, paralyzing road, rail and airline travel along the U.S. East Coast. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
A man runs with his dog along a street covered by snow during a winter storm in Washington January 23, 2016. A winter storm dumped nearly 2 feet (58 cm) of snow on the suburbs of Washington, D.C., on Saturday before moving on to Philadelphia and New York, paralyzing road, rail and airline travel along the U.S. East Coast. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
A man walks along a street covered by snow during a winter storm in Washington January 23, 2016. A winter storm dumped nearly 2 feet (58 cm) of snow on the suburbs of Washington, D.C., on Saturday before moving on to Philadelphia and New York, paralyzing road, rail and airline travel along the U.S. East Coast. REUTERS/Carlos Barria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
A jeep makes its way north though heavy snow on the FDR Drive with the Brooklyn Bridge in background during a snowstorm in the Manhattan borough of New York, January 23, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri