A powerful winter storm hit the US east coast on Monday and brought record-breaking snowfall. Millions of people faced major disruptions as authorities cancelled thousands of flights. Parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts recorded nearly 94 centimetres of snow. New York City’s Central Park measured more than 48 centimetres, according to the National Weather Service. Weather warnings stretched from North Carolina to northern Maine and into parts of eastern Canada.
More than 600,000 properties lost electricity across the region. The Boston Globe announced it would not print for the first time in its 153-year history. Officials severely restricted travel and imposed bans in several states and cities.
Travel Bans and Extreme Conditions Across the Region
The nor’easter storm moved away from the United States and crossed coastal eastern Canada. Meteorologists warned that strong winds would continue. Forecasters expected snow totals of 30 to 61 centimetres near the north-east coastline.
Rhode Island appeared to receive the most snowfall during the storm. Local media called it the worst snowstorm in the state’s history. Providence recorded 91 centimetres of snow and broke the previous record of 72.6 centimetres from February 1978.
Candice Hrencecin, a meteorologist in Boston, said the storm smashed the record. She said experts were as shocked as the public. Rhode Island and neighbouring Connecticut imposed bans on non-essential travel. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey later introduced a travel ban as well.
She warned that white-out conditions made travel extremely dangerous. She urged residents to stay off the roads and warned that emergency services would struggle to reach stranded drivers.
Residents Describe Feeling Trapped by Snow
Boston resident Bradley Jay said the storm made him feel like a prisoner. He said he would not walk around town for another ten days and felt stuck inside.
In Massachusetts, nearly 300,000 people lost power. Around 85 percent of customers in Barnstable County, including Cape Cod, had outages. The Boston Globe said snow prevented staff from reaching the printing press. Subscribers will receive two editions together on Wednesday.
In New York City, a travel ban brought the city to a near standstill before officials lifted it at noon local time. Authorities closed all roads, highways, and bridges during the ban. Police also investigated footage showing officers being hit with snowballs in Washington Square Park.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called the behaviour disgraceful and criminal.
Families Struggle as Snow Blocks Homes and Roads
Sandra Wu from Long Island said snow blocked her front door. She said her husband tried digging through the garage but failed. She said she had never seen a storm this severe.
Officials in Connecticut and New Jersey warned that falling trees and branches could cause dangerous road conditions. Authorities also warned of further power outages.
Many travellers struggled to move across the United States on Monday. FlightAware reported more than 5,706 cancelled flights within, into, or out of the country.
Ninety-eight percent of flights from LaGuardia Airport were cancelled. Ninety-one percent of flights from JFK Airport were cancelled. These airports usually handle more than 335,000 passengers daily. The storm dropped around 48 centimetres of snow at both airports.
Aviation Chaos and More Storms Ahead
Most flights from Boston, Newark, and Philadelphia were also cancelled. More than 2,000 flights were already cancelled on Tuesday. Boston, Newark, and LaGuardia remained the worst affected airports.
The storm, known as a bomb cyclone, moved over Nova Scotia in Canada. Meteorologists said an Alberta Clipper will follow and bring snow, ice, and strong winds to the Great Lakes and north-eastern United States.
Forecasters expect less snow than on Monday but very cold nights and freezing temperatures throughout the week.
