Americans get a white Chrsitmas but many have no power
- 00:00:47
- ITN
Americans get a white Chrsitmas but many have no power
At least 11 people were killed as a massive winter storm battered the west coast of America with snow, sleet and ice. Many US states were already struggling after ice storms last week and tens of thousands of of people continue to be without electricity going into the holiday period. In Des Moines, Iowa, two people were killed in a crash on Interstate Highway 80, and in the northwest of the state, a farmer was killed when his tractor overturned when he used it to clear snow. An Illinois man was killed in a car crash caused by blizzard conditions in Michigan, while elsewhere in the state, dozens of people were involved in a 30-vehicle pile-up. Meanwhile, there have been delays at major airports, including New York, New Jersey, Boston, Houston, San Francisco and Seattle. Meteorologist Dana Felton said: "This is probably one of the worst storms since 1990." He said the last major storm of this type was on Christmas Day in 1996, adding: "This is definitely a once-in-a-decade type of storm." Temperatures in Chicago plunged to -19C and in Maine, thundersnow, which sees thunder and lightning accompany heavy snowfall, occurred. In New Hampshire, heavy snow fell on the homes and businesses of almost 17,000 customers still without electricity since ice storms knocked out power on December 11, and 12. Another foot of snow is expected.
ITN | December 23, 2008
