The Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C. has announced a 24-hour closure today due to the severe winter storm currently impacting large parts of the United States. The embassy said the decision was taken in view of the dangerous winter conditions and adverse weather, prioritising the safety of staff and visitors.
The closure comes amid one of the most disruptive winter weather events in recent years, with the storm affecting millions of people from the southern Rockies to the Northeast. The National Weather Service and local authorities have issued storm warnings, urging residents to stay indoors, avoid travel, and prepare for extended periods of hazardous conditions.
The storm, identified by meteorologists as one of the most extensive of the season, has severely impacted infrastructure and daily life. According to tracking data, more than 850,000 customers across the United States were without power as of Sunday, with outages reported in states including Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana, and many more expected as the system lingers.
Travel has also been heavily disrupted, with over 10,000 flights cancelled across the country due to icy runways, poor visibility and airport closures, marking one of the highest single-day cancellation totals in recent memory. Major hubs such as LaGuardia in New York, Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas, and Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta were among the hardest hit, forcing airlines to adjust schedules and prompting widespread delays.
U.S. authorities have warned that the storm poses serious risks to life and infrastructure, as icy conditions make commuting hazardous and strain emergency response systems. Several states have declared emergencies, while schools, government offices, and businesses have either shut down or shifted to remote operations.
In Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas, snow accumulation and freezing temperatures have significantly limited movement, prompting federal and diplomatic missions to scale down operations. The Ghana Embassy’s temporary shutdown aligns with similar precautionary measures taken by institutions across the capital.
The embassy has assured Ghanaian nationals and members of the public that services will resume once conditions improve and it is safe to reopen. It further encouraged individuals with urgent matters to monitor official communication channels for updates on reopening timelines.
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