A powerful and fast-moving winter storm has resulted in heavy snowfall across the Northeastern United States on Tuesday, causing chaos for millions of American commuters, prompting school closures, and disrupting air travel in the region. The National Weather Service reported that over 30 million people in the area stretching from West Virginia to New England were under winter storm warnings. The nor'easter hit parts of the region, bringing thick, wet snow that measured 15 centimeters overnight.
In New York, the most populous city in the country, conditions changed from rain to snow in the early morning hours. Snow accumulation in the city was expected to reach around 18 centimeters throughout the day, making driving conditions difficult. The New York City Emergency Management Department noted on X that snowfall rates were hitting five centimeters per hour across the Hudson Valley. They stated, "These ranges will shift southward over the next few hours until around noon, leading to rapid road coverage and hazardous driving conditions," urging drivers to exercise caution.
Snow totals could reach 30.5 centimeters in other parts of the region before the storm moves eastward and leaves the area later in the day. Boston was forecasted to see around 23 centimeters of snow, prompting the mayor to declare a state of emergency. School districts throughout the region canceled in-person classes for the day, including in New York City, which held remote classes for its one million students.
The storm completely ends a nearly two-year "snow drought" in New York City. According to FlightAware.com, over 900 flights to and from LaGuardia, Boston Logan International, and Newark Liberty International airports in New York were delayed or canceled. Strong winds reaching 64 kilometers per hour are also expected, along with coastal flooding along the New England coast and in New Jersey and Long Island.
