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Heavy snow, sleet hit southeastern US

11 January 2011 05:05 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A huge snowstorm and freezing rain have hit the southeastern United States, causing power outages and school closures and leaving roads impassable in most areas, an official says, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The storm started to move across the south on Sunday and by mid-Monday more than 22 centimeters of snow had blanketed states from Louisiana to North Carolina, National Weather Service meteorologist Daniel Lamb told the Associated Press.

Forecasters said that on Tuesday the snow will turn into ice.

At least eight people have died in weather-related car crashes in the region over the weekend.

Authorities in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee have all declared states of emergency and schools and businesses had to closed early on Monday because of the storm.

Tennessee was the hardest hit, with 33 centimeters of snow covering parts of the state.

Around 2,000 flights were cancelled throughout the southern region due to heavy snow and freezing conditions.

Meanwhile, meteorologists predict continued freezing conditions in coming days. The weather system is expected to make its way north, towards Ohio, by Tuesday.