US north-east braces for heavy snow and ferocious winds amid blizzard warnings | US weather
Snow began falling in parts of the northeastern United States on Sunday to mark the beginning of an intense winter storm that is predicted to reach blizzard intensity and cause major disruptions amid heavy snowfall and wind gusts of up to 70 mph.
East coast residents were scrambling to prepare for the late-winter storm, which prompted blizzard warnings and weather advisories from Maryland to Massachusetts and affected more than 35 million people. More than a foot of snow was expected, with warnings for inland storms and possible coastal flooding from Cape Cod to Delaware.
The National Weather Service warned that if the storm intensifies Sunday afternoon, it could be much more intense than forecast a few days ago.
The weather service issued blizzard warnings for New York City and coastal communities in the eastern Long Island peninsula, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island and further north in Boston and other parts of Massachusetts, saying 1 to 2 ft of snow could fall in many areas.
A storm surge of 2 to 4 ft could cause moderate coastal flooding during high tide cycles and beach erosion from Delaware Bay to Cape Cod, almost 400 miles north.
The storm was expected to arrive in areas around Washington, DC, on Sunday morning, then extend towards Philadelphia and New York City, reaching Boston by the evening; Just as the icy remnants of last month’s big snowstorm brought Arctic temperatures to the region and finally began to melt.
The weather service said the storm could cause whiteout conditions that “make travel hazardous and potentially life-threatening,” adding: “Strong winds and the weight of snow on tree branches can down power lines and cause occasional power outages.”
Airlines had canceled more than 6,000 flights in and out of U.S. airports through Monday. According to flight tracking site FlightAwareMajor hubs like JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia and Boston Logan were hardest hit.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency on Sunday, providing extra funds to deal with a major weather event. In an unusual move, he announced that all non-essential travel would be banned on the city’s streets, highways and bridges from 9pm on Sunday until noon on Monday, and announced a full ‘snow day’ in public schools on Monday. “No online school, no distance learning, just a classic snow day,” he said in a post on X.
New York residents, who are under a snowstorm warning for the first time in almost a decade, were urged to stay home if possible until the storm passes on Monday. “Staying home means staying safe,” Mamdani told Fox News Sunday morning.
The mayor said the city will expand efforts to deal with the massive snowstorm weeks ago. New York had brought in additional snow removal equipment from upstate and planned to expand the use of geocoding to track bus stops, crosswalks, pedestrian ramps and unguarded bus shelters that needed clearing.
City officials also hired people to do the snow shoveling on foot; Some of these will begin operating Sunday night to get an early start on the first wave of snowfall.
Meanwhile, outreach workers are also helping homeless New Yorkers get off the street into shelters and various warming centers, he said.
Temperatures were dropping Sunday afternoon, but were not expected to come anywhere near the Arctic conditions that persisted for weeks after the last snowfall that killed at least 18 people living outside in New York City alone.
Governor Mikie Sherrill announced a state of emergency across New Jersey at noon Sunday, with all 21 counties under a simultaneous blizzard warning for the first time in 30 years. Many churches canceled Sunday services and other events, and officials in Atlantic City urged residents and visitors to famous casinos to stay off the streets, especially in low-lying neighborhoods prone to flooding.
Sherrill appealed to New Jerseyans on social media: “If you’re outside now, it’s time to come home. Please stay off the roads and stay inside. Take this storm seriously.”
In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu declared a snow emergency effective at 2 p.m. Sunday; public schools and city offices will be closed on Monday.
“Boston is looking to face another winter storm this season, and it looks set to be one of historic proportions,” Wu said at a news conference Sunday morning.
