Severe Winter Storm Leads to Warnings Along U.S. East Coast
A significant winter storm is set to impact the eastern United States, prompting officials to urge residents to take necessary precautions. The storm is expected to bring blizzard conditions, heavy snowfall, and strong winds from the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast.
New Jersey Light Rail arrives at Port Imperial Station as snow falls on Sunday in Weehawken, N.J.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued warnings of heavy snow, high winds, and coastal flooding from New Jersey to Massachusetts. Forecaster Cody Snell anticipates snowfall amounts ranging from 18 inches to 2 feet in these areas.
“That’s where we’re going to see the major impacts from snowfall with this system that includes heavy snowfall rates, which can reduce visibility and accumulate on roads very quickly tonight, into tomorrow morning,” Snell explained during a briefing. “We’re going to see the snowfall be very heavy and wet. … It’s going to weigh down trees, power lines.”
Wind gusts between 40 and 70 mph are expected from New Jersey to New England, potentially causing power outages and coastal flooding, according to the NWS.
Blizzard warnings have been declared across various states, including Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and several more in the Northeast.
In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced public schools would close on Monday, urging residents to stay indoors for safety. “We haven’t seen a storm like this in a decade. Some parts of the city could see up to 28in,” Mamdani stated in a social media post. “Please, stay inside if you can and if you see someone on the street in need of assistance, call 311.”
States of emergency are declared in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Travel conditions are forecasted to be “dangerous or impossible” in areas like southeast Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Long Island, as stated by the NWS.
In New York City, a travel ban has been implemented, closing all bridges, highways, and streets from 9 pm Sunday to noon Monday. NYC Comptroller Mark Levine emphasized the need for compliance, stating, “No cars, trucks, scooters, or e-bikes. Limited exemptions for essential and emergency movement,” in a social media post.
Air travel is severely disrupted, with over 5,100 flight delays and more than 3,300 cancellations across the U.S., as reported by FlightAware. Amtrak announced modifications to its routes through Monday.
NWS meteorologist Owen Shieh cautioned residents about the weight of the snow, urging them to pace themselves while shoveling. “As you’re clearing the driveways, please take care, take lots of breaks and don’t overdo it when it comes to shoveling the snow,” Shieh advised.
FEMA also advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel, charge electronic devices, and be prepared for possible power outages.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
