Snow Storm In US: Schools, Offices Shut Down. Power Outages In Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland

Heavy snowstorms in parts of the US makes it difficult for people to move around, while state police in Virginia responded to over 600 traffic accidents.

The US Capitol is pictured after a winter storm over the capital region on January 3, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo | AFP/Pablo Poriciuncula)

New Delhi: A winter storm has broken out throughout the U.S. Southeast and mid-Atlantic areas, turning places like Maryland, Virginia and the capital Washington D.C. into "winter wonderland", reported AP. 

While it seems picturesque, it has led to problems for the people with power outages and thick snow making it impossible for people to move around. Government offices and schools have been shut.

According to AP News, Snow spotters for the National Weather Service reported accumulations of 11.5 inches (29.2 centimetres) in the D.C. suburb of Capitol Heights, Maryland, and 10 inches (25.4 centimetres) in Rose Hill, Virginia, by the time the storm wound down Monday afternoon. At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, 6.7 inches (17 centimetres) of snow was reported. Farther south, in Chancellorsville, Virginia, 12.1 inches (30.7 centimetres) was reported.

Many places including four of the Smithsonian museums had already closed in late December due to a Covid-19 outbreak, and the National Zoo announced Monday that it would close for the day because of the snow says the report.

The heavy snowfall, coupled with closings caused by the surge in coronavirus cases, forced much of Washington to shut down. President Joe Biden made a slow return to Washington after spending about a week in Delaware. According to a Reuters report, they were stuck on Air Force One for 30 minutes as ploughs cleared the runway. The president’s motorcade, slowly made on its way back to the White House.

Meanwhile, in Virginia, state police reported having responded to more than 600 traffic accidents, including a crash involving six tractor-trailers though no injuries were reported in the crash.

Western Washington state and Oregon were seeing a mix of rain and snow while heavy snow, gusty winds, drifts and crashes shut down mountain passes and some highways. Even Florida woke up to a dusting of snow, with temperatures plunging. 

People in D.C. did enjoy the icy weather, children made snowmen, or the youth enjoyed snowball fights dogs too seemed to enjoy the fresh powdery snow.