![NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 05: A snow plows next to the Statue of Liberty on January 5, 2018 in New York City. New York City dug out from the "Bomb Cyclone" under frigid temperatures. John Moore/Getty Images/AFP](https://tyht.cgixix.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/063_901540078.jpg?resize=640%2C440)
Una ola de frío glacial que puede congelar rutas nevadas, provocar accidentes y complicar aún más la vida de las personas sin hogar se apoderó el viernes de la costa este de Estados Unidos tras el paso de un “ciclón bomba”.
“La costa este amaneció con un frío ártico esta mañana” tras el inusual ciclón provocado por una caída drástica de la presión barométrica, un proceso conocido como bombogénesis, indicó el Servicio Nacional del Clima (SNC).
Aunque paró de nevar, “habrán temperaturas amargamente frías y ventiscas peligrosas en el próximo par de días”, precisó.
El SNC pronostica temperaturas de unos -20ºC en Nueva York, Nueva Jersey o Massachusetts, y hasta de -40º más al norte, de Maine a New Hampshire.
A raíz del ciclón, que azotó primero el sur de Estados Unidos provocando la primera nieve en tres décadas en Florida, más de 5.500 vuelos fueron anulados en todo el país desde el jueves.
Los dos aeropuertos de Nueva York, que habían cerrado sus pistas, reabrieron el viernes, pero un 20% de los vuelos en el aeropuerto JFK fueron cancelados, así como un 30% en Boston, según el sitio FlightAware.
En Boston olas de agua helada invadieron el puerto, una zona turística y una estación de metro, que recibió casi un metro de agua en las mayores inundaciones en la ciudad en 40 años.
En Virginia, más de 40.000 personas sufrieron cortes de electricidad, y miles más quedaron sin luz a lo largo de la costa, entre ellos unos 10.000 residentes de Massachusetts.
En varios estados se declaró el estado de emergencia, que incluyó a la ciudad de Nueva York, así como a Westcherster y Long Island.
La Gran Manzana, que recibió el jueves casi 25 cm de nieve, amaneció el viernes soleada y con cielos despejados, pero como en Boston, el termómetro marca -12ºC.
Las escuelas reabrieron y miles de empleados palean a mano y en camiones la nieve sucia de calles y aceras.
El aire del Ártico, acoplado a vientos fuertes a veces superiores a los 60 km/h, puede bajar la temperatura corporal y provocar hipotermia, advirtió el SNC.
La costa este es azotada por una ola de frío con temperaturas muy por debajo del promedio desde después de la Navidad.
Pero dentro de seis a 10 días, el termómetro subirá y se ubicará por encima del promedio, vaticinó el SNC. “Buenas noticias tras muchas semanas de frío atroz”.
AFP
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
The National Weather Service said that very cold temperatures and wind chills will follow for much of the eastern third of the US through the weekend. A cold wave gripping a large section of the United States had already been blamed for a dozen deaths. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS