Major Winter Storm Paralyzes US Northeast with Heavy Snow and Travel Disruptions
A powerful winter storm advanced across the Northeast United States on Sunday, imposing widespread travel restrictions and cancellations as blizzard warnings were triggered from Maryland to Massachusetts. The storm, described as a major nor'easter, has disrupted daily life with heavy snowfall and strong winds, reducing visibility and prompting urgent safety measures.
Travel Bans and Emergency Declarations Roll Out Across Multiple States
New York City and New Jersey announced travel bans, while airlines grounded thousands of flights and Broadway shows were called off. Officials urged residents to avoid non-essential travel, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani implementing a ban on non-emergency travel from 9:00 pm local time on Sunday until noon Monday. Similar restrictions were planned in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and other parts of the region.
States of emergency were declared in New York City and across parts of New York state, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The US National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for areas including New York City, Long Island, Boston, and coastal regions across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
Flight Cancellations and Airport Closures Hit Hard
By Sunday afternoon, about 3,500 domestic and international flights in the United States had been cancelled, more than six times the number cancelled the previous day, according to FlightAware. New York's Kennedy and LaGuardia airports were among the hardest hit, with around 40 percent of scheduled flights grounded. In Washington, DC, landmarks such as Arlington National Cemetery announced closures on Monday.
Forecasters Predict Historic Snowfall and Rapid Intensification
Forecasters said up to two feet of snow could fall in many areas, with New York City potentially receiving between 16 and 24 inches. This could mark its heaviest snowfall since 2016, when a record 27.5 inches blanketed Central Park. The storm is expected to batter the wider Northeast, with up to 24 inches forecast for parts of Massachusetts and 8 to 12 inches in sections of Pennsylvania.
Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center, noted, "It's been a while since we've had a major nor'easter and major blizzard of this magnitude across the Northeast. This is definitely a major winter storm and a major impact for this part of the country." The storm intensified unexpectedly, catching some meteorologists off guard. Initially projected for 6 to 12 inches of snow, forecasts jumped to 16 to 24 inches by Sunday morning, potentially making it the fourth-largest snowfall in Central Park since the 19th century.
Blizzard Warnings and Coastal Flooding Risks
More than 35 million people from eastern Maryland to eastern Massachusetts are under blizzard warnings through Monday. Forecasters also warned of wind gusts of up to 55 mph in the New York region and a risk of coastal flooding in parts of New Jersey and New York, including the Bronx and Queens.
Storm Could Qualify as a Bomb Cyclone
The storm could qualify as a bomb cyclone, a term used when a storm intensifies rapidly, with its barometric pressure dropping at least 24 millibars within 24 hours. Forecasters said this storm's pressure is expected to fall 24 millibars in less than 12 hours. While bomb cyclones can occur in any season, they are most common in fall and winter, when frigid Arctic air moves south and clashes with warmer air masses.
Emergency alerts urged residents to stay off roads amid dangerous blizzard conditions, as the storm continues to pose significant threats to safety and infrastructure across the Northeast.
