A powerful blizzard dumped more than 30cms (one foot) of snow across parts of the US northeast today, bringing travel close to a halt for millions of people as dangerous conditions led to road closures, suspended rail services and the cancellation of around 5,700 flights, reports RTE.
Thousands of homes and businesses lost electricity and officials, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, urged residents to remain off the roads to allow emergency crews to clear snow-covered streets. Many schools across the region were also closed, reports RTE.
“I’m urging every New Yorker to please stay home,” Mr Mamdani said, reports RTE.
By 8am this morning (1pm Irish time), more than 38cms (15 inches) of snow had fallen in New York City’s Central Park, with a further 13-15cms (5-6 inches) forecast before the storm eases later this afternoon local time, according to Bob Oravec, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, reports RTE.
Strong winds are capable of creating snow drifts several feet high.
“It’s a pretty big storm and it’s definitely a blizzard” with wind gusts of 64-96km/h (40-60mph) from Delaware to New York City to Boston, Mr Oravec said. “It’ll probably take a week to dig out,” reports RTE.
Boston has recorded about 15cm (six inches) of snowfall so far, while much of Delaware and southern New England has already seen between 30-45cm (12-18 inches), and Philadelphia has been blanketed with 30cm (a foot) of snow.
The storm is forecast to subside in New York City later today, though Boston and northern parts of New England are expected to experience snowfall through tonight, reports RTE.
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Due to the strength of the winds, the storm meets the official criteria for a blizzard. Blizzards involve gusts of 56km/h (35mph) or higher sustained for three hours or more, Mr Oravec said. Stony Brook Village on eastern Long Island and Nantucket Island recorded some of the strongest gusts, exceeding 96km/h (60mph).
Airlines had cancelled more than 5,700 flights by this morning and delayed a further 900, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.com. More than 1,600 flights scheduled for tomorrow had already been called off, reports RTE.
The majority of cancellations and delays affected the northeastern US, including New York’s John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports, Boston’s Logan Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.
There have been 14 flights to and from Dublin Airport cancelled today as a result of the storm, reports RTE.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said 100 National Guard members had been deployed to assist in Long Island, New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley, areas expected to be hardest hit by heavy snowfall and coastal winds. The storm also led to the closure of the UN headquarters complex in Manhattan today.
Some parts of the US northeast could receive as much as 60cm (two feet) of snow, while wind gusts may reach 112km/h (70mph), increasing the likelihood of falling trees and power cuts, according to the Department of Homeland Security, reports RTE.
In an update issued yesterday, the agency said that despite an ongoing funding lapse, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster response operations remain unaffected, including staff travel, emergency management and vital assistance for those impacted by active disasters, with life safety and property protection continuing to be prioritised.
Last week, Reuters reported that the Trump administration had instructed FEMA to pause the deployment of hundreds of aid workers to disaster-stricken areas nationwide while the Department of Homeland Security remains shut down, reports RTE.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency and advised state employees to stay at home. Connecticut imposed a ban on commercial vehicles using limited-access highways, with exemptions for emergency and essential deliveries.
Commuter train and bus services in New Jersey were suspended, while the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority announced it would halt all operations from last night through today and would confirm plans to resume services once conditions improve, reports RTE.
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