Winter storm in US affects 140 million+ people
Listen to the story (Australian accent)
A powerful winter storm is moving across the United States. It is affecting more than 140 million people from New Mexico to New England.
The storm started on Saturday and is bringing heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain. Experts say this weather is very dangerous for many parts of the country.
It is already snowing in states like Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas. The ice has made many roads and highways very slippery.
In New York City, three people died because of the freezing temperatures. Local police found the bodies on the streets on Saturday.
The storm is also causing big problems for travel and electricity. Around 14,000 flights have been canceled. Thousands of people are already without power, especially in Texas. Energy companies are worried about more power outages in Virginia and North Carolina because ice can break power lines and trees.
In some areas, there is more than half an inch (130mm) of ice on the ground. Meteorologists say that the ice will be difficult to clear because the weather will stay very cold. The snow and ice will not melt quickly, which makes it hard for workers to fix the power lines or clean the roads.
Government officials have declared emergencies in 16 states and Washington D.C. to prepare for the storm. They are telling people to take the storm seriously and stay safe.
Heavy snow will continue through the weekend in the Ohio Valley and the Northeast. Some places might get more than 12 inches (30cm) of snow.
Almost half of the US population is affected by the record-breaking winter.
Vocabulary26 words
- Powerful
- very strong; having a lot of force; 💪
- Storm
- very bad weather; a time with lots of rain, snow, or wind ⛈️
- Million
- one million = 1,000,000
- Freezing
- very, very cold; the temperature when water turns into ice ❄️
- Expert
- a person who knows a lot about a subject; a specialist; a master
- State
- an area or part of a country with its own local government (like Texas or California) 🗺️
- Temperature
- how hot or cold something is; a measurement of heat 🌡️
- Local
- nearby; in the area where you live; close by 📍
- Cause
- to make something happen; the reason why something happens
- Electricity
- the type of energy we use to turn on lights and computers; electric power ⚡
- Flight
- a trip on an airplane; traveling through the air ✈️
- Power
- energy or electricity; the force used to run machines or lights 🔌
- Energy company
- a business that makes or sells electricity and gas to homes and buildings
- Power outage
- a time when there is no electricity; a blackout; when the lights go out
- Power line
- a long wire that carries electricity from one place to another; electric cables
- Inch
- a small unit for measuring length or depth; 2.54 centimeters
- Ground
- the earth under our feet; the floor outside
- Meteorologist
- a scientist who studies the weather; a weather reporter 🌦️
- Melt
- to change from ice to water because of heat; to turn from solid to liquid 💧
- Government
- the group of people who control and run a country or state 🏛️
- Official
- a person who works for the government; someone in a position of power
- Declare
- to say something important publicly; to announce; to state clearly 📢
- Emergency
- a dangerous situation that needs help immediately; a serious problem 🚨
- Population
- the total number of people living in a place or country
- Record
- the best or most extreme level ever reached in the past
- Record-breaking
- better, bigger, or more extreme than anything before it; the new number one 🥇
Quiz
Answer key
1. Ice can break power lines. 2. More than 12 inches 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A _____ winter storm is moving across the United States. It is _____ more than 140 million people from New Mexico to New _____.
The storm started on Saturday and _____ bringing heavy snow, ice, and freezing _____. Experts say this weather is very dangerous for _____ parts of the country.
It is already snowing in _____ like Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas. The ice has _____ many roads and highways very slippery.
In _____ York City, three people died because of the freezing _____. Local police found the bodies on the streets on _____.
The storm is also causing big _____ for travel and electricity. Around _____ flights have been canceled. Thousands of people are already _____ power, especially in Texas. Energy companies are worried _____ more power outages in Virginia and _____ Carolina because ice can break power lines and _____.
In some areas, there is more _____ half an inch (130mm) of ice on the ground. Meteorologists say _____ the ice will be difficult to clear _____ the weather will stay very cold. The snow and ice will not melt _____, which makes it hard for workers to fix the power _____ or clean the roads.
Government officials have _____ emergencies in 16 states and Washington D.C. to prepare for the _____. They are telling people to take the storm _____ and stay safe.
Heavy snow will continue through the _____ in the Ohio Valley and the Northeast. Some places might get more than _____ inches (30cm) of snow.
Almost half of the _____ population is affected by the record-breaking _____.
Discussion questions
- What is the coldest weather you have ever experienced? How did it feel?
- Do you prefer hot weather or cold weather? Why?
- If your house lost electricity for two days during a winter storm, what would you do to stay warm?
- Do you think governments are doing enough to prepare for natural disasters like big storms?
- Is it better to live in a place with four seasons or a place where the weather is the same all year?
- How does severe weather affect the economy of a country? (Think about travel, work, and shops).
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