Winter storm forces emergency declaration across seven US states

A state of emergency has been declared in seven US states due to a winter storm caused by the intrusion of cold Arctic air deep into the continent.

The severe weather has affected an area stretching from New Jersey to Kansas, with up to 70 million people expected to be in the storm's path, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Blizzards, accompanied by heavy snowfall, are expected in the region, with snow accumulations reaching up to 35 centimetres. Residents in several states have been advised to stay indoors. Meteorologists have described this storm as the strongest of the past decade.

As a result, 1,700 flights have been cancelled, hundreds of schools have been closed, and many roads have been blocked, including those in Washington, where a joint session of both chambers of the US Congress is scheduled for January 6 to certify the presidential election results.

An arctic cold front is hitting the southern US as a severe winter storm moves from the Ohio River Valley to the mid-Atlantic, lasting from January 5. 

The storm has caused significant travel disruptions, bringing heavy snow, ice, and strong winds to much of the eastern US. Widespread power outages are also expected.

By Naila Huseynova