Severe snowstorm hits Northeastern United States: Thousands of flights cancelled, travel banned in several cities; 50 million affected

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): A powerful snowstorm has struck the northeastern United States, leading to travel bans in several cities, school closures, and thousands of flight cancellations. Heavy snowfall and strong winds have affected areas from Washington to Boston.

The National Weather Service has described it as a major winter storm for the Northeast. According to officials, heavy snowfall is expected across the northern Mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions through Monday. Some areas could see snowfall rates of two to three inches per hour, with total accumulation reaching up to two feet in certain locations. Authorities warned that travel conditions may become nearly impossible.

Blizzard warnings have been issued in multiple areas. The New York City weather department called it a potentially historic snowstorm. A travel ban was imposed in New York City from 9 p.m. Sunday until Monday afternoon. Mayor Eric Adams said the city has not experienced a storm of this scale in the past decade and urged residents to avoid all non-essential travel. Schools in the city will remain closed on Monday, marking the first traditional “snow day” since 2019.

In New Jersey, a travel restriction was enforced from 9 p.m., while in Rhode Island, residents were advised to stay off the roads after 7 p.m. As conditions worsened, several states declared a state of emergency. Air travel has been severely disrupted. Airlines cancelled nearly 8,000 flights scheduled for Sunday and Monday, with the highest number of cancellations reported in Boston and New York. Nearly half of Sunday’s flights at LaGuardia and JFK airports in New York were cancelled. By Sunday afternoon, more than 3,500 domestic and international flights had already been grounded.

Boston and much of eastern Massachusetts are expected to receive up to two feet of snow, with wind speeds reaching 75 miles per hour. The Boston weather department termed it a potentially historic and destructive storm. Washington, D.C., is also forecast to receive several inches of wet snow. Federal agencies announced a two-hour delay in operations, while many schools opted for closures or delayed openings.

The Weather Service warned that strong coastal winds could trigger coastal flooding from Delaware to Cape Cod. Flooding may cause structural damage and widespread road submergence. Approximately 54 million people, from the central Appalachians to coastal Maine, were in the storm’s path under blizzard warnings. The storm is expected to move past northern New England by Tuesday morning.