A strong winter storm hit the eastern coast of the United States on Monday, causing snow pillows, power outages and the cancellation of more than 5,000 flights, affecting millions of people. Authorities issued weather warnings from North Carolina to northern Maine, extending to some areas in eastern Canada as well.
According to the National Weather Service, parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts recorded approximately 94 centimeters of snow, while Central Park in New York accumulated more than 48 centimeters. The storm, known as a “nor’easter,” is expected to move away on Tuesday, although strong winds are forecasted.
More than 600,000 homes lost electricity along the eastern coast. In Massachusetts, around 300,000 customers were without power, with particular impact on Barnstable County, which includes the Cape Cod region.
The impact of the storm was so great that The Boston Globe announced for the first time in 153 years that it will not be printed due to the impossibility of workers reaching the printing plant. Subscribers will receive the Tuesday and Wednesday editions together.
Several states have declared non-essential travel bans. In Rhode Island and Connecticut, authorities imposed travel restrictions, followed by Massachusetts. Governor Maura Healey warned of “white-out” conditions, where visibility is virtually nonexistent, urging the population to stay at home.
In New York, a complete travel ban left the city nearly paralyzed for several hours, with roads, bridges, and highways closed. The police are also investigating images that show agents being hit by snowballs in a city park.
In the aviation sector, the impact was severe. According to the FlightAware website, more than 5,700 flights were canceled on Monday in the United States. Almost all flights departing from LaGuardia Airport were canceled, as well as the majority of flights from JFK, Boston, Newark, and Philadelphia airports.
As many as 2,000 additional flights were already canceled just on Tuesday, keeping Boston, Newark, and LaGuardia airports among the most affected, while authorities continue to assess the damage caused by one of the worst snowstorms in decades in the region.
