New York:
A effective winter storm engulfed the U.S. Northeast on Monday, blanketing a great deal of the area in heavy snow, blasting coastal regions with higher winds and bringing New York City and other important urban centers to practically a standstill.
The nor’easter – an East Coast storm with winds blowing from the northeast – could bring accumulations of 1 to 2 feet (31 cm to 61 cm) to the country’s most densely populated area ahead of tapering off on Tuesday, the National Weather Service mentioned.
By early Monday evening, the nor’easter had dumped as a great deal as 27 inches (68 cm) of snow in components of New Jersey and Pennsylvania and 17 inches (43 cm) in components of New York City. More than 13 inches (33 cm) covered Manhattan’s Central Park, as bands of snow started moving north into New England.
By early evening, Boston reported a mix of snow and rain, the Weather Service’s forecaster Marc Chenard mentioned. But just a handful of miles inland from the New England coast, up to 12 inches (30 cm) of snow have been reported, he mentioned. By Tuesday morning, some regions could see 15 inches (38 cm).
If the winter storm achieves its maximum possible, it would be the very first to bring more than 2 feet of snow in New York City considering that 2016, when a record-breaking blizzard dumped 27.5 inches (70 cm) on the country’s most populous city, according to the climate service.
Damaging winds of 30 to 40 miles per hour (48 to 64 km per hour) have been forecast along the New Jersey coast. In Massachusetts, the climate service forecast gusts up to 60 mph (97 kph) on Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Power outages driven by wind and heavy, wet snow are probable overnight across the area, but no important outages have been reported early Monday evening.
“It’s the storm of the century!” predicted snowplow operator James Carew, 56, of Union, New Jersey, noting he had been clearing snow for 30 years.
The storm’s intensity and speedy snow buildup signifies various visits to clear residential driveways like the one he was plowing in Maplewood, New Jersey. “This is a 10 out of 10 for storms,” Carew mentioned.
Winter storm warnings and climate advisories have been in location across the Northeast. Outdoor subway service in New York City and PATH commuter trains linking Manhattan and New Jersey have been suspended. The city closed public college buildings by way of Tuesday.
New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency in the city and 44 other counties, and warned of probable road closures in the hours ahead.
“This is a dangerous situation. A life-threatening situation,” Cuomo told a noontime news conference. “Expect closures. It’s going to get very bad very quickly.”
More than 90% of flights at New York City-location airports have been canceled, mentioned Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and operations suspended at La Guardia and John F. Kennedy airports in Queens.
COVID-19 vaccination internet sites and testing areas have been forced to close or transform schedules.
All six vaccine mega-internet sites across New Jersey have been closed on Monday, and vaccine appointments have been rescheduled at quite a few New York state-run internet sites. Vaccinations and testing have been also suspended at New York City public hospitals and wellness centers.
De Blasio mentioned that, with the city facing up to 22 inches (56 cm) of snow, vaccinations would be postponed on Tuesday. “The storm is disrupting our vaccination effort, and we need to keep people safe,” he told a news briefing.
In Boston, wellness officials closed a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Reggie Lewis Center, a significant indoor sports center.
Some Northeasterners welcomed the heavy snowfall, sharing on social media images of streets, parks and backyards blanketed with the white stuff, and content pets playing in the snow.
“The amount of snow in my backyard is insane! Plus it’s still snowing! It’s halfway up the back fence,” New York City resident Sarah posted on Twitter.
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