DFA warns Filipinos in US east coast of explosive snowstorm

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (AP file photo)

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has alerted 340,000 Filipinos based in the northeastern part of the United States of a “bomb cyclone,” or an explosive snowstorm that was expected to hit Thursday.

DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano issued a statement on Thursday advising US-based Filipinos to monitor weather reports and evacuate when necessary upon the orders of authorities.

“Our kababayans (countrymen) residing in or visiting the Northeastern US are advised to observe the necessary precautions, avoid non-essential travel, and have emergency contact numbers in preparation for this extreme weather situation,” Cayetano said.

The DFA said that a “bomb cyclone”—a meteorological phenomenon called “bombogenesis” or area of rapidly declining low pressure, could affect as many as 340,000 Filipinos residing in the US east coast.

The bomb cyclone was expected to bring hurricane-force winter winds and from six to 12 inches of snow in New England states and from three to six inches of snow in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut areas, the DFA said.

Volunteers under the warden system of the Philippine Consulate General in New York has been alerted to monitor the situation and report any emergency, the DFA said.

Most of the US was battling arctic weather conditions since late December while parts of usually warmer regions like the Southeast are experiencing historic low temperature ranges, freezing rain, and snow, the department said. /jpv

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