'Bomb cyclone' hits US East Coast; 12 dead, flights disrupted

A giant winter "bomb cyclone" walloped the US East Coast on Thursday with freezing cold and heavy snow, forcing thousands of flight cancellations and widespread school closures -- and even prompting the US Senate to cancel votes for the rest of the week.

Millions of Americans faced potential power outages in bitterly cold sub-freezing temperatures, with some 45,000 people in Virginia and thousands more in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida already affected.

Relief in the form of warmer temperatures was not expected until next week, according to the National Weather Service, and the snow was expected to only taper off by late Friday as the storm moves northeastward into Canada.

Florida -- the "Sunshine State" better known for palm trees, beaches and balmy weather -- saw its first snow in nearly three decades in northern parts of the state.

Roads were closed in northern Florida and southeastern Georgia, where Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in coastal areas.

Florida's Governor Rick Scott urged people there "to prepare for extreme cold weather conditions, including potential snow, sleet or ice accumulations."
READ MORE