Few vehicles and passers-by ventured into the streets, moving very slowly to avoid slips and slides amid a temperature of -4ºC and a thermal sensation of -11ºC.
A powerful winter "cyclone bomb" hit the east coast of the United States on Thursday with huge snowstorms and icy cold: thousands of flights were canceled, schools closed and to alarm authorities, the temperature will continue to fall.
From the Niagara Falls on the Canadian border partially frozen to the majestic icy Potomac River in Washington DC, the entire coast was hit by blizzards that made travel in a nightmare, with vehicles and pedestrians moving in slow motion.
Up to 23.6 cm of snow fell amid strong winds of about 80 km / h over the city of New York, declared in a state of emergency, AFP reported.
Few vehicles and passers-by ventured into the streets, moving very slowly to avoid slips and slides amid a temperature of -4ºC and a thermal sensation of -11ºC.
After the storm is expected colder: the temperature on Friday can be up to -30 ° C, warned the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio.
Gigantic waves with pieces of ice caused "historical flooding" in Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Parker told reporters. A total of 26 of 78 coastal communities reported flooding, he said.
The television showed images of drivers in front of the port of Boston trying to control their vehicles with the water at half a door, and reported that some ships were stranded on the streets. "The snow that fell during the storm will freeze quickly," Baker said.
Some 4,315 flights have been canceled, mostly in New York, where airports closed, as well as in Boston and Newark, New Jersey, according to the FlightAware.com site. Another 13,300 flights suffered delays.
Schools in New York, Boston, Philadelphia or Washington closed their doors as a precaution. Florida, the "Sunshine State," saw snow fall on palm trees on Wednesday for the first time in three decades.
Its governor, Rick Scott, urged citizens to prepare "for extreme cold, including snow, sleet or ice."