'Blizzard bomb' hits America, people freeze to death on porches
An Ohio man froze to death on his porch, raising fears of more victims as a snowstorm batters the United States.
Frozen fountain in cold weather in Charlotte, South Carolina. Photo:Boston Herald. |
The 64-year-old man is one of many victims of the unusual cold snap that is hitting the United States and Canada. After the “bomb blizzard” hit the East Coast on January 4, things are expected to get worse, according toAP.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as Darnell Wilson, of Akron, who died of hypothermia. It is unclear how long he was on his porch before a delivery driver discovered his body on January 3. The temperature in Akron on Thursday was -10 degrees Celsius.
Life in the northeastern United States has been thrown into chaos by heavy snowfall as the weather continues to get colder. Forecasters predict a new cold snap will hit the East Coast this weekend, bringing strong winds and record-breaking cold air.
"It's going to be bitterly cold, it's going to be terrible," said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.
Nearly 5,000 flights were canceled as the “bomb blizzard” hit the U.S., including 65% of flights to New York City and Boston, according to data from FlightAware. Across the East Coast, authorities and residents were trying to clear snow paths and assess the storm’s aftermath.
At least seven people have died in weather-related crashes so far. Virginia officials said two people died: a girl hit by a truck on icy roads and a 75-year-old man hit by a snowplow. Four others in Carolina died while driving on snowy roads.'Blizzard bomb' hits America, people freeze to death on porches.