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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Southern US hit by rare snowfall | Southern US hit by rare snowfall |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Snow has blanketed parts of the US states of Louisiana and Mississippi, causing disruption and leaving thousands without power. | Snow has blanketed parts of the US states of Louisiana and Mississippi, causing disruption and leaving thousands without power. |
| Up to eight inches of snow were reported in some areas, blocking roads and forcing offices to close. | Up to eight inches of snow were reported in some areas, blocking roads and forcing offices to close. |
| In Mississippi some schools were shut, and forecasters warned of treacherous driving conditions. | In Mississippi some schools were shut, and forecasters warned of treacherous driving conditions. |
| The north-east of the country was also hit by winter weather, with a state of emergency in place in two states. | The north-east of the country was also hit by winter weather, with a state of emergency in place in two states. |
| The snow in the Louisiana city of New Orleans was its first in more than four years. | The snow in the Louisiana city of New Orleans was its first in more than four years. |
| It caused considerable excitement, with office workers taking to the streets to watch and photograph the snow. | It caused considerable excitement, with office workers taking to the streets to watch and photograph the snow. |
| At a park in New Orleans' Uptown neighbourhood, Sara Echaniz, 41, took photos and dodged snowballs thrown by her son, three-year-old Sam. | At a park in New Orleans' Uptown neighbourhood, Sara Echaniz, 41, took photos and dodged snowballs thrown by her son, three-year-old Sam. |
| "He didn't believe it was snow until it started sticking to the ground," Ms Ecahniz said. | "He didn't believe it was snow until it started sticking to the ground," Ms Ecahniz said. |
| Eight inches of snow fell in Amite, about 75 miles (121 km) north-west of New Orleans, a meteorologist said. In Mississippi, up to five inches of snow fell in some southern parts of the state. | Eight inches of snow fell in Amite, about 75 miles (121 km) north-west of New Orleans, a meteorologist said. In Mississippi, up to five inches of snow fell in some southern parts of the state. |
| About 10,000 power cuts were reported by Cleco Corp, one of Louisiana's largest power providers, and some flights at Louis Armstrong International Airport outside New Orleans were delayed. | |
| Snow is rare in southern Louisiana, although more northern parts of the state see it about once a year. | Snow is rare in southern Louisiana, although more northern parts of the state see it about once a year. |
| State of emergency | State of emergency |
| Meanwhile in the north-east of the US an ice storm knocked out power to more than half a million homes and businesses in New England and upstate New York. | Meanwhile in the north-east of the US an ice storm knocked out power to more than half a million homes and businesses in New England and upstate New York. |
| Governors in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire declared a state of emergency. Schools were closed and travel disrupted across the region. | Governors in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire declared a state of emergency. Schools were closed and travel disrupted across the region. |
| "I urge all New Hampshire citizens to take sensible precautions and heed all warnings from public officials," said New Hampshire Governor John Lynch. | "I urge all New Hampshire citizens to take sensible precautions and heed all warnings from public officials," said New Hampshire Governor John Lynch. |
| Fire departments in New Hampshire were responding to reports of transformer explosions and downed power lines and trees. | Fire departments in New Hampshire were responding to reports of transformer explosions and downed power lines and trees. |
| Public Service Company of New Hampshire said an unprecedented 230,000 customers - nearly half of the homes and businesses it serves - were without power at one point. | Public Service Company of New Hampshire said an unprecedented 230,000 customers - nearly half of the homes and businesses it serves - were without power at one point. |
| The outages had far surpassed the infamous ice storm of 1998, when some residents spent more than a week without power, utility officials said. | The outages had far surpassed the infamous ice storm of 1998, when some residents spent more than a week without power, utility officials said. |