More than 40 million individuals found themselves under weather advisories in the northeastern United States on Monday as a winter storm blanketed the region with significant snowfall, leading New York officials to enact a citywide travel restriction.
Dubbed the “Nor’easter,” the storm hammered the area overnight, causing flight disruptions and power outages for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani directed nonessential drivers to stay off the roads until midday Monday and closed schools. Similar travel limitations were imposed by authorities in neighboring New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Residents expressed frustration over facing the second major winter storm in the region within weeks.
Vincent Greer, a Wildwood, New Jersey resident, voiced his exasperation while shoveling snow outside his residence, stating, “I’m sick of it. I don’t want to see any more snow.”
Conversely, at New York’s Grand Central station, onlookers admired the city covered in white.
Chris Crowell, 45, shared his delight with AFP after a stroll with a friend, saying, “It’s beautiful. So much snow, it’s just gorgeous. We did not expect to be out this long.”
The National Weather Service predicted a decrease in snowfall overnight but cautioned that strong winds could still result in blizzard conditions in certain areas.
By 4:00 pm (2100 GMT), over 5,600 flights within or out of the United States were canceled, with numerous others delayed, as per FlightAware tracking service data. New York’s major airports and Boston Logan Airport experienced the highest number of cancellations.
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport recorded nearly three feet (32.8 inches or 83 centimeters) of snow by Monday midday, setting a new record for the state.
The recent storm arrived shortly after the area recuperated from another severe winter weather event that was associated with over 100 fatalities.
Officials issued stern public advisories ahead of the latest snowfall, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid congested roads.
Mayor Mamdani emphasized the significance of the storm, urging New Yorkers to remain cautious. In response, the city increased the hourly rate for emergency snow removal workers from $19.14 to $30 to expedite clearing public spaces.
Central Park saw 19.7 inches (50 centimeters) of snow accumulation, marking the most significant single-storm snowfall recorded at New York City’s official reporting station in over a decade.
The United Nations headquarters in the city remained closed on Monday.
Snowplows were dispatched across the northeast to minimize prolonged disruptions, while major cities like New York and Philadelphia set up designated warming centers for individuals caught in the cold outdoors.
In the north, Rhode Island extended a travel ban until Tuesday, and Massachusetts implemented new restrictions on nonessential travel in certain areas. Boston public schools remained closed on Tuesday due to the heavy snowfall.
