Winter ‘bomb cyclone’ threatens East Coast

A rare winter storm hit the US Southeast yesterday, bringing Florida’scapital its first snow in three decades and snarling travel, while NewEngland braced for a “bombogenesis” whopper forecast to bring heavyaccumulations today. Governors in states from Florida to Virginia warnedresidents to expect icy roads and unseasonable freezing temperatures.Georgia governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in part ofthe state, while Florida governor Rick Scott ordered warming sheltersopened for residents.In historic Charleston, South Carolina, the winter storm shutteredcarriage horse tour companies yesterday, city spokesman Jack O’Toolesaid. A day earlier, a carriage horse slipped and fell on a patch of iceduring a tour.Residents in nearby Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, on Tuesday headed togrocery stores in droves to stock up on food and supplies at localgroceries, according to Nicholas Nichols, an employee at Publix grocerystore.“They did restock last night. They were here until 4 in the morning,” Nichols said.The wintry mix and low wind chills could cause widespread power outagesand leave roads icy, making commuting treacherous for millions ofAmericans from northern Florida to southern Virginia, the NationalWeather Service said in a series of warnings.Some schools and universities in those states were closed yesterday.Many flights out of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia and Tallahassee Airport in Florida were cancelled.The weather service said its Tallahassee office measured a snow andsleet accumulation of 0.1 inch (2.5mm) on its roof early in the day, thefirst time Florida’s capital has had snow in nearly 30 years.