[1/7/17] Millions of Americans were struggling under a winter storm that blocked roads and covered airports in treacherous ice Saturday, paralyzing transportation from Alabama all the way to New York City.
Four died from weather-related causes in Oregon, Kentucky, Georgia and Maine, according to The Weather Channel.
Parts of North Carolina and Virginia were forecast to see up to a foot of snow while roads in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama were coated in ice, leading to hundreds of accidents. Charlotte, North Carolina, reported Saturday morning that 46 accidents, some with minor injuries, had occurred since 10 p.m. Friday.
In Connecticut, state troopers reported a pileup that included at least 20 cars, three tractor trailers and a tanker on Saturday, but there were no serious injuries.
Snow began falling in New York City Saturday morning and continued into the evening. Major delays were reported at New York City area airports on Saturday, with some arriving flights delayed an average of more than 6 hours.
Blizzard warnings were in place for parts of Massachusetts through Sunday morning. In Boston Saturday, Mayor Martin Walsh announced the preparations the city had undertaken due to the winter weather. More than 30,000 tons of salt were available for use and 420 pieces of snow equipment would be out on the roadway by 1 p.m. Additional resources would also be made available if necessary.
“With expected accumulations reaching nearly a foot of snow over the course of the day, we are encouraging residents to use caution if they need to travel and keep an eye out for our neighbors, especially our seniors during this time,” Walsh said in a statement.
