New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned that a winter storm on Monday was expected to be one of the worst in 150 years as blizzard warnings were issued from Maryland to Massachusetts.
New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts declared states of emergency. The National Weather Service predicted 1 to 2 feet of snow in several areas, along with heavy winds. In addition to large measures of snow, visibility has impacted areas, dropping to a quarter-mile or less, which has prompted officials to urge residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary, according to The Associated Press.
More than 40 million people remain under blizzard warnings across a 700-mile zone that stretches from Maryland to Maine, per CBS News. By early Monday morning, more than 500,000 power outages were reported across the East Coast, with a large number of them in Massachusetts and New Jersey, according to PowerOutage.us.
Monday morning snow accumulation measured into double digits in many areas. New York City’s Central Park recorded more than 15 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
National travel impact
The National Weather Service described travel conditions as “nearly impossible.”
For residents in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani banned nonessential travel for residents from Sunday evening until noon Monday. While the travel ban has now lifted in the area, travel is still discouraged for New York residents, and in areas like Hoboken, New Jersey, the travel ban is in place until 4 p.m. local time.
The storm has crippled air travel. Flight cancellations started on Saturday in an effort to get ahead of the incoming storm. On Monday, cancellations reached 5,300, while Sunday saw more than 3,400 cancellations. In total, more than 10,000 flights have been canceled through Tuesday, according to FlightAware.
Flights are effectively suspended from Philadelphia north to Boston. While major hubs like Boston, New York and Philadelphia are the hardest hit, Baltimore and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport also reported significant cancellations.
According to NBC News, New York-area airports have stopped all operations, with no arrivals or departures scheduled. John F. Kennedy International Airport reported 1,087 cancellations, LaGuardia had 1,025 and Newark Liberty had 861.
For Delta Air Lines, there are 25 directly impacted cities for flights flying to, from or through so far.
Experts have recommended travelers stay away from airports unless they receive a specific confirmation that their flight is operating. Delays and cancellations are expected to continue to impact travel as the storm continues.
