A severe snowstorm hit the northeastern United States, stretching from Maryland to Maine on Monday, causing millions to remain indoors due to powerful winds andblizzard warnings, transportation shutdowns, and school and business shutdowns. New York City is still in a state of emergency, said Mayor Zohran Mamdani during an afternoon press conference.
Snow was falling at a speed of 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 centimeters) per hour on Monday morning, stretching from New York to Massachusetts. Several regions have accumulated more than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow since Sunday, accompanied by wind speeds exceeding 30 mph (48 kph) and poor visibility.
Over 5,000 flights arriving at and departing from the U.S. were called off on Monday, as reported by a flight tracking website.FlightAware. Many were cancelled in New York, New Jersey, and Boston.
Here’s the latest:
275,000 people in Massachusetts remain without electricity as thousands in New Jersey have had power restored.
Over 516,000 utility customers across the country are still without power on Monday night following a severe blizzard that hit the Northeast.
Over half of the people without electricity are in Massachusetts, where the storm brought three feet of snow in certain areas, according toPowerOutage.us, which monitors power failures across the country.
New Jersey, coming in a distant second, was still managing almost 80,000 customers without power, although this number had decreased frommore than 200,000at the height of the storm.
Several other states experiencing major power failures late Monday were Delaware and Rhode Island.
New York City area transportation network gradually returning to normal following the heavy snowstorm
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Monday night that most subway lines are functioning normally, except for Staten Island, which has been severely affected and still has rail service halted.
The agency advised subway passengers to anticipate delays, particularly on lines that operate above ground. Bus travelers should also prepare for extended waiting periods as routes will be modified according to road conditions, and the city’s longer, accordion-style buses will not be available.
Commuter rail service to the suburbs located north and east of the city, including heavily affected Long Island, is anticipated to restart with limited operations before the Tuesday morning rush, according to the MTA.
The New Jersey Transit train and bus service across the Hudson River remained halted late Monday, although some light rail operations were anticipated to restart soon on a restricted schedule, according to the agency.
Limited service of the Long Island Rail Road will restart
The Long Island Rail Road announced that service will restart on a limited scale at 4 a.m. on Tuesday. Limited operations will begin on the Ronkonkoma, Huntington, Babylon, Oyster Bay, Montauk, and Port Washington lines.
The commuter rail stated on its website that additional information will be released shortly.
The “emergency snow shoveler” initiative in NYC causes confusion and criticism due to identification requirements.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been promoting a campaign torecruit temporary shovelersto clear sidewalks, bus stops, and other public spaces. “All you need to bring is two forms of identification to make sure you get paid,” he stated at a press conference on Monday.
Individuals who responded to the mayor’s request soon discovered it was more complex. On Monday afternoon at a sanitation facility in Manhattan, four aspiring shovelers were turned back by city employees, who informed them they required a Social Security card along with two passport-sized photographs.
When one of the women accessed a clip from the mayor’s press briefing, the employee gave a shrug.
A representative from the city’s Department of Sanitation stated that the city has eased its rules regarding passport photographs, although it still mandates Social Security cards to meet federal employment regulations. He mentioned that almost 1,500 individuals have already registered to shovel since the snowstorm started.
The initiative — offering $30 per hour — had alreadycome under firefrom certain conservatives, who compared the stringent conditions for workers with Mamdani’s stance against voter identification laws.
At least 19 sites across 5 states have accumulated 2 feet of snow or more
Central Park in New York City received 19 inches of snowfall.
Warwick, Rhode Island, surpassed 3 feet, reaching 36.2 inches (92 centimeters), leading the country thus far.
Central Islip on Long Island, along with Somerset and Berkeley in Massachusetts, all recorded 31 inches (79 centimeters).
At least 19 sites across five states have accumulated 2 feet (0.61 meters) of snow.
The strongest wind speed of 83 miles per hour (133.6 kph) was measured in Nantucket, while hurricane-level gusts were observed across Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
Issues brought up regarding New York City’s choice to resume school operations following the snowstorm
Officials from the Republican-dominated area of Staten Island, one of the most severely affected parts of New York, were some of the strongest critics of Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s decision to bring students back to classrooms on Tuesday in the country’s biggest school system.
Many roads are not passable, and individuals are forced to walk in the center of the street since the sidewalks are entirely obstructed by at least two feet of snow,” stated Vito Fossella, Borough President of Staten Island, in a statement. “Schools must definitely stay closed tomorrow.
The teachers’ union also urged its members to be careful while traveling during the Tuesday morning rush.
Nobody should risk their safety in order to come to work,” the United Federation of Teachers stated in a message to its members on Monday. “Choose what is most suitable for you and your family tomorrow. Your well-being is the top priority.
Many suburban districts in the region declared a second day of closure for students.
It’s a lot of snow and not many places to put it
Lines of front porches in Brooklyn were at different stages of digging on Monday along the tree-covered streets located to the east of Prospect Park.
However, Brooklyn locals expressed satisfaction in uniting to clear snow for themselves — and their neighbors.
Robert Jefferson mentioned that he visited five stores on Sunday in search of salt for the sidewalk, but none had any available.
“I discovered one on Ocean Avenue that had salt, so I hurried there. I didn’t have dinner,” he mentioned on Monday as he assisted his next-door neighbors, a mother and daughter, in shoveling their sidewalk after he was done.
It’s quite warm out here, so the snow isn’t very icy. It’s, uh, pretty light,” he said as a city snowplow passed by on the street. “But there’s a lot of snow and not many places to move it.
A snowstorm in a Rhode Island city set a new record, surpassing a previous one from almost 50 years ago.
The snowfall of 32.8 inches (83.3 centimeters) recorded at Rhode Island T.F. Greene International Airport by 1 p.m. on Monday surpassed the earlier record of 28.6 inches (72.6 centimeters) for a single snowstorm, which was established between February 6 and 7, 1978, as reported by the National Weather Service.
Additional snowfall is anticipated for the region. The airport is located in Warwick, south of Providence.
Ban on commercial vehicle movement lifted in Connecticut
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont stated on Monday afternoon that “the worst of the storm has passed.”
The Democrat continued to advise drivers to refrain from traveling for the remainder of the day, however. Although circumstances on interstate highways are getting better, Lamont mentioned that local and secondary roads will require more time to clear.
“If you have to go out, start early, move at a steady pace, and maintain a safe distance from the snowplows,” Lamont stated.
A storm hits Delaware, causing damage to power lines and facilities.
Two utility providers in the state reported that over 80,000 residences experienced power outages earlier in the day.
Delaware Electric Cooperative has brought electricity back to 13,000 residences and anticipates restoring power to thousands more today, although certain outages may require several days to resolve, according to the company’s latest statement.
Crews from Virginia are set to help with recovery operations, the company stated, referring to the winter conditions as “the second most severe storm our Co-op has encountered.”
Delaware is currently experiencing a state of emergency, restricting non-essential travel across most areas of the state.
We’re simply performing a good act for our neighbor
The noise of shovels scraping against concrete echoed through Brooklyn as locals and businesses started to remove snow and free vehicles after the most intense part of the storm had subsided on Monday afternoon.
Christa Prince and two other individuals were occupied with shovels and an electric snowblower.
“We’re simply creating a route for this vehicle. It isn’t ours, but you understand, we’re just performing a good deed for our neighbor,” Prince stated.
This storm is the most powerful in ten years, according to weather experts.
A nor’easter rapidly developed into a “bomb cyclone” and included thundersnow and lightning — phenomena that are uncommon in snowstorms.
Although the storm was crippling and could be hazardous for millions on the East Coast, weather experts praised its strength and appearance.
The storm arrived at the “Goldilocks situation” where the temperature was perfectly right for wet, heavy snow — if it had been warmer, the precipitation would not have fallen as snow. And if it had been colder, there wouldn’t have been as much moisture in the air to support such a snowfall, said Owen Shieh, a warning coordination meteorologist at the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center in Maryland.
The storm also followed the perfect path for the greatest amount of snow. A bit more inland, and it would have lost its warm ocean energy; a little further out to sea, and the heaviest snow would have fallen over the water, said Jeff Masters, co-founder of Weather Underground and currently a meteorologist with Yale Climate Connections.
Looking for individuals without a warm place to stay
As snow accumulated throughout Boston, employees from the region’s biggest homeless services organization spread out across the city using vans and on foot.
Within the four shelters at Pine Street Inn, every available space was occupied, according to Inn representative Barbara Trevisan. The organization provides 585 beds throughout its shelters, with over 650 individuals present in the buildings from Sunday to Monday—some resting on mats placed closely together in lobbies, with only a few inches between them.
It’s not always beautiful,” Trevisan remarked. “But we ensure that everyone has a secure place to reside.
As the storm grew stronger, outreach teams were out on the streets, delivering blankets, gloves, coats, socks, and beverages such as hot chocolate from their vans.
If an individual declines shelter, Trevisan explained, staff members are unable to compel them to enter. Rather, they provide what they can: a ride, dry clothing, a warm beverage, or even an opportunity to rest in a heated vehicle for a short period.
The lights were constantly blinking and turning on and off
An underground electrical fire, triggered by road salt seeping into the area, led to carbon monoxide emissions that caused residents of a Brooklyn apartment building to be evacuated during the snowstorm on Monday.
A woman lifted a child wrapped in a blanket into her arms as she entered the blowing snow, with a man carrying a cat that was meowing inside a pet carrier. White smoke drifted from a nearby maintenance hole.
Another inhabitant, Eric Moultrie, mentioned that the fire had been burning quietly prior to the snowstorm and ultimately led to a power failure on Monday morning.
“I heard some loud buzzing and banging, and the lights were all flickering on and off,” he said. He mentioned that the building in the Flatbush area has approximately 70 apartments.
Firefighters on the location mentioned that it’s typical for road salt to enter underground utility systems, causing sparks that damage cable insulation and may emit carbon monoxide.
Clinging to the possibility of a return flight
Daniel Gueyikian, a new college graduate from Chicago, ended up stuck due to several flight cancellations.
Gueyikian went to the East Coast during the weekend to visit friends and participate in a conference. He had planned to fly back from Newark airport but his flight on Sunday evening was called off.
He scheduled another flight for a Monday morning departure from Philadelphia — that flight was also canceled.
A noon departure was also canceled.
By midday on Monday, Gueyikian was waiting for a 5 p.m. flight—the first one listed on the departure board that hadn’t been called off yet.
“It’s been a bit overwhelming,” he said, joking about wanting to take over as the groundhog and determine if winter should continue any further.
Broadway to stay closed for one more day
Broadway performances were shut down on Monday for the second straight day.
Although Monday is typically a day off in the theater district, five shows — “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Chicago,” “Every Brilliant Thing,” “The Great Gatsby,” and “Six” — were scheduled to open and will now close their doors.
Mamdani: “We can expect 40-degree temperatures at some point this week”
“When discussing the previous storm, we’re referring to a level of arctic conditions that the city hadn’t experienced in many, many years. Unlike in earlier storms, there was no rise in temperature after the snowfall,” Mamdani stated, noting that there have been no reports of deaths since the beginning of the current storm.
“Although there is a blizzard, one of the few positive updates is that we can expect 40-degree (4.4 degree Celsius) temperatures at some point this week,” he added.
New York City is still in a state of emergency.
Teams have been working nonstop since the storm began, as reported by Mamdani. Approximately 2,600 sanitation workers are on duty during each shift, with 2,300 snow plows assisting in removing the snow, he mentioned.
“I still urge all non-emergency traffic — including cars, trucks, scooters, and e-bikes — to stay off the roads. We are clearing the streets and making every effort to ensure our roadways remain open for emergency vehicles,” Mamdani stated.
Some areas of Staten Island have been severely affected, leading to the deployment of additional clearing equipment. Approximately 11,000 utility customers in the Rockaways lost power on Monday morning, though electricity has been restored to around 8,000 of them.
The commercial travel restriction is still in place in Connecticut.
State Emergency Management Director William Turner also asked residents to avoid the roads.
“Although a complete travel ban is not in place, the journey remains extremely dangerous,” he stated at a press briefing.
Joshua Cingranelli, the state meteorologist, noted that certain areas in southeastern Connecticut have accumulated approximately 20 inches (51 cm) of snow, with wind speeds reaching 68 mph (109.4 kph) at Groton-New London Airport along the coast.
Official blizzard conditions were observed in Groton, Meriden, and Waterbury, he stated.
We’re suited up for Houston right now
Benjamin Lundell and Thomas Mehari, network consultants traveling from Sweden for business, were among the passengers stuck in New York when their flight to Texas was canceled on Monday.
We’re dressed for Houston right now,” Lundell said, walking through knee-deep snow in a light jacket and jeans while looking for a new hotel in Manhattan. “It’s a wild day… but it’s been an adventure.
One benefit of the snowstorm: Katz’s Deli, the well-known pastrami restaurant, was free of a queue for once.
There were many available tables,” Lundell remarked. “We had no idea it was a well-liked spot.
Snowfall counts are climbing
Snowfall measurements hit 2 feet (61 centimeters) on Monday morning in southeastern Massachusetts, Long Island in New York, and areas of New Jersey and Rhode Island, as reported to the National Weather Service.
Coffee, but no customers
Ali Atoun was wrapped in a parka and hoodie while working at a Manhattan coffee truck, which he had opened at 6 a.m.
He was sufficiently warm, he mentioned. But the customers? “Very few.”
We’re still not out of danger yet
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is cautioning that additional power outages could occur as the snow accumulates, causing tree branches to fall on electrical lines.
We still aren’t safe yet,” he said to WFSB-TV just before 11 a.m. “This storm has several more hours ahead.
He mentioned that approximately 20,000 homes have lost electricity so far.
Due to the significant snowfall, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has stated that municipalities can dump snow heaps into water sources, provided they follow certain guidelines.
“This added flexibility will enable towns to more conveniently clear road access for emergency vehicles, and will stop adverse effects from obstructed drainage systems, such as localized flooding,” stated a news release from the department.
Colleges manage online instruction and additional challenges
Employees who are not considered essential at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, were advised to stay away from campus on Monday and to work from home whenever feasible. Meanwhile, essential staff were instructed to come to work as planned unless they received different guidance.
In the meantime, Harvard instructed faculty, students, staff, academic personnel, and others to review their school communication channels for academic and school-specific schedule changes.
In New York, Columbia University transitioned its campuses to online learning, although essential staff were still required to come to work.
The scene on Mary
land’s Eastern Shore
A heavy snowfall blanketed Ocean City’s boardwalk, with the beach town receiving over 12 inches (30.5 cm) of snow. The community remained under a blizzard warning from the weather service until Monday night.
Several power outages were noted, as well as some traffic signals that were non-functional, as mentioned on the city’s Facebook page.
“Our teams are currently evaluating roads, infrastructure, and essential services across the Town to gain a thorough grasp of the storm’s effects and determine where our response actions should be focused,” said JR Harmon, the deputy city manager.
Travel is prohibited in New Jersey
Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced that a state-wide travel restriction would continue until at least noon on Monday, due to strong winds and blizzard-like conditions still present throughout the state, leading to “extremely hazardous driving situations.”
The travel restriction does not apply to the New Jersey Turnpike and specific critical workers, according to officials. Individuals who break the rule may be subject to consequences.
Sherrill mentioned that the majority of people are adhering to the travel restrictions, which “is appreciated.”
Just need to take small amounts with a shovel
Vince Lisi was assisting his neighbors with shoveling in Brooklyn.
“We have a sufficiently broad path for individuals to walk their dogs,” he stated.
Lisi, a graphic designer in his early sixties, mentioned that the snowfall was significant.
I’m out of breath, but I’m nearly finished,” he said, mentioning that he had been outside for approximately 30 minutes. “I know I’ll be back here again.
His advice? “Just need to take small scoops.”
It’s extremely quiet, aside from the howling winds
Most underground train systems remained functional in New York City, although the usual busy commutes were not present.
In Lower Manhattan, snow removal workers seemed to be more numerous than office employees traveling to work, while people strolled through streets that are usually congested with morning traffic.
It’s very quiet, aside from the howling winds,” said Luis Valez, a concierge at a residential building near Wall Street, while he was clearing the sidewalk. “A few residents have ventured out to pick up their necessities. Other than that, there’s nothing.
Close by, Pelle Andersson, a chef employed by Spotify, exited a city bus.
“No one will be there, but we need to get ready for tomorrow,” he said, adding that he is Swedish and used to harsh weather conditions.
“This is the genuine article, even for someone from Sweden,” he added.
