East Coast Gripped by Record-Breaking Blizzard, Millions Face Disruptions
A powerful blizzard has brought the US East Coast to a standstill, with New York City and surrounding areas bearing the brunt of the storm. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered a citywide travel ban from 9pm Sunday to noon Monday for all but emergency travel, and declared a state of emergency on Sunday to release extra funding to deal with the major weather event. The storm has caused widespread power outages, flight cancellations, and school closures, impacting millions of residents.
Travel Chaos and Emergency Measures
Mayor Mamdani’s travel ban, affecting streets, highways, and bridges, aimed to protect residents from the dangerous blizzard conditions. Essential workers and those with emergencies were exempt. Public schools were closed Monday, with Mayor Mamdani announcing a traditional “snow day” – no online or remote learning.
The National Weather Service warned that the storm could intensify beyond initial projections. A blizzard warning was in effect for New York City, the first in almost a decade, urging residents to stay indoors if possible.
Widespread Disruptions and Power Outages
The storm impacted a vast area, affecting more than 35 million people from Maryland to Massachusetts. Snowfall totals exceeded 30 inches in some areas, with wind gusts reaching up to 70 mph and potential for coastal flooding from Cape Cod to Delaware.
As of Monday, over 600,000 homes and businesses were without power. More than 5,700 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. Were canceled, and another 3,800 were delayed. Approximately a dozen airports were closed, including Atlantic City International and Martha’s Vineyard.
Providence, Rhode Island, recorded a record 37.9 inches of snow, while Central Islip, New York, saw 31 inches. Philadelphia experienced over 13 inches of snow by Monday morning, the most from a single storm in ten years.
Storm Intensifies into Bomb Cyclone
The winter storm intensified into a bomb cyclone on Monday, bringing powerful winds and additional snowfall. This is the first blizzard for much of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts in about four years.
Improvement Expected Tuesday
The National Weather Service predicts mostly sunny weather with temperatures around freezing point for Tuesday, signaling an improvement in conditions.