(SOUNDBITE) NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR ROY COOPER SAYING: "North Carolina is in the cold icy grip of a mammoth winter storm." A powerful winter storm hit the U.S. Southeast over the weekend, knocking out power for more than 300,000 customers and killing at least four people… (SOUNDBITE) NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR ROY COOPER SAYING: "Snow and ice can make the scene outside your window look like a holiday card, but don't be fooled!

This storm is treacherous especially if you try and drive in it." The National Weather Service reported between four and 12 inches of snow in some areas… with more snowfall expected from North Carolina to southwest Virginia… As of Sunday afternoon, more than 200,000 customers in North Carolina did not have electricity and tens of thousands in South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee were also cut off… The dangerous storm called Winter Storm Diego caused more than 1700 flights to be cancelled on Sunday… In South Carolina, three men were reportedly found unconscious and not breathing in a home from carbon monoxide poisoning... Officials said they found a generator being worked on inside the home… And ANOTHER man was reportedly killed after a tree fell on a car Sunday afternoon in North Carolina… (upsound cooper) Officials in North Carolina said the state of emergency would remain in effect… and warned that the effects of the storm could last for days...