A powerful winter storm battered the US East Coast, prompting warnings of strong winds, flooding and heavy snowfall, including in parts of the Southeast more familiar with hurricanes than blizzards. Temperatures dropped sharply as tens of thousands of homes and businesses remained without power.
In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — a coastal city symbolised by sun, palm trees and seagulls — officials said up to 15 cm of snow was expected. With no snow removal equipment available, authorities said they would rely on whatever resources they could find. “We’ll use what we can find,” Mayor Mark Kruea said.
Forecasters warned that subfreezing temperatures could persist into February. Heavy snowfall was expected across the Carolinas, Virginia and northeast Georgia over the weekend, with parts of North Carolina forecast to receive up to 30 cm of snow. Snowfall was also possible across areas stretching from Maryland to Maine.