NEW YORK:A powerful winter storm engulfed the U.S. Northeast on Monday, blanketing much of the region in heavy snow, blasting coastal areas with high winds and bringing New York City and other major urban centers to nearly 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 region before tapering off on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
By early Monday evening, the nor'easter had dumped as much as 27 inches (68 cm) of snow in parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania and 17 inches (43 cm) in parts of New York City. More than 13 inches (33 cm) covered Manhattan's Central Park, as bands of snow began moving north into New England.
By early evening, Boston reported a mix of snow and rain, the Weather Service's forecaster Marc Chenard said. But just a few miles inland from the New England coast, up to 12 inches (30 cm) of snow were reported, he said. By Tuesday morning, some areas could see 15 inches (38 cm).
If the winter storm achieves its maximum potential, it would be the first to bring more than 2 feet of snow in New York City since 2016, when a record-breaking blizzard dumped 27.5 inches (70 cm) on the country's most populous city, according to the weather service.
Damaging winds of 30 to 40 miles per hour (48 to 64 km per hour) were forecast along the New Jersey coast. In Massachusetts, the weather 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 possible overnight across the region, but no major outages were 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 rapid snow buildup means multiple 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 said.
Winter storm warnings and weather advisories were in place across the Northeast. Outdoor subway service in New York City and PATH commuter trains linking Manhattan and New Jersey were suspended. The city closed public school buildings through Tuesday.
New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency in the city and 44 other counties, and warned of possible 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-area airports were canceled, said 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 sites and testing locations were forced to close or change schedules.
All six vaccine mega-sites across New Jersey were closed on Monday, and vaccine appointments were rescheduled at many New York state-run sites. Vaccinations and testing were also suspended at New York City public hospitals and health centers.
De Blasio said 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, health officials closed a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Reggie Lewis Center, a large indoor sports center.
Some Northeasterners welcomed the heavy snowfall, sharing on social media photos of streets, parks and backyards blanketed with the white stuff, and happy 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.
Reuters
Tue Feb 02 2021
A person shovels snow in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood during a snow storm, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., Feb 1, 2021. REUTERSpic
Kru kapal dikaitkan dengan Israel dibebaskan
Iran berkata pembebasan anak kapal adalah tindakan kemanusiaan dan mereka boleh pulang ke negara mereka bersama kapten kapal.
Agensi Risikan Seoul beri amaran Korea Utara rancang serangan ke atas kedutaan
Agensi Risikan Korea Selatan mengeluarkan amaran Pyongyang sedang merancang serangan yang menyasarkan pegawai dan rakyat Seoul di luar negara, dan kementerian luar perlu meningkatkan tahap amaran untuk misi diplomatik di lima negara.
20 terkorban bas terjatuh dalam gaung di utara Pakistan
Bas berkenaan dalam perjalanan ke kawasan pergunungan utara Gilgit-Baltistan dari Rawalpindi di wilayah timur Pakistan.
MKT UMNO beri komitmen sokong kempen calon PH
Mesyuarat Majlis Kerja Tertinggi (MKT) UMNO bersetuju untuk memberi komitmen penuh untuk membantu calon Pakatan Harapan (PH), Pang Sock Tao pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu, pada 11 Mei ini.
Laluan alternatif hubungkan Sibu-Kapit akan dibina
Satu jajaran jalan baharu akan dibina sebagai laluan alternatif yang akan menghubungkan Sibu dengan Kapit melibatkan jarak kira-kira 66 kilometer (km).
UNESCO anugerahkan hadiah kepada wartawan Palestin
Wartawan berkenaan dianugerahkan Hadiah Kebebasan Akhbar Dunia UNESCO/Guillermo Cano 2024 pada Khamis di Chile, lapor agensi berita Jerman (DPA).
Malaysia, Jepun bincang kerjasama perdagangan, pertanian
Malaysia dan Jepun mengadakan perbincangan dua hala yang antara lain menyentuh mengenai perdagangan, pertanian dan peranan Malaysia sebagai hab halal yang boleh dimanfaatkan negara itu.
Mohamad wakili PM ketengah isu kepentingan Islam
Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan akan mengetuai delegasi Malaysia selaku wakil Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ke Sesi Ke-15 Sidang Kemuncak Pertubuhan Kerjasama Islam (OIC) di Banjul, Gambia dari 4 hingga 5 Mei ini.
Malaysia berpeluang berkembang dengan kemajuan teknologi
Mengambil contoh Malaysia sebagai negara berpendapatan sederhana, beliau berkata keutamaan yang harus dilijat ia seberapa cepat teknologi berkenaan boleh disebarkan ke seluruh ekonomi, dan memanfaatkan sektor seperti penjagaan kesihatan dan pendidikan.
Rakyat perlu kuasai AI untuk tentukan sendiri nilai moral, budaya - PM
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.berkata jika AI tidak dikuasai, nilai dan moral dalam teknologi itu akan ditentukan oleh pihak-pihak yang menguasainya terutama dari barat.
Pembaharuan fiskal kerajaan bantu perkukuhkan lagi keyakinan pelabur - MoF
Pembaharuan fiskal yang dilaksanakan kerajaan telah membantu memperkukuh lagi keyakinan pelabur terhadap Malaysia, kata Kementerian Kewangan.
Amir Hamzah ketuai delegasi ke mesyuarat bersama pelabur di New York
Menteri Kewangan II Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan mengetuai delegasi Malaysia ke mesyuarat bersama pelabur di New York, Amerika Syarikat dari 14 April hingga 16 April, 2024.
Gempa bumi di New York, New Jersey: Kementerian Luar giat selaras usaha
Gegaran dirasai di seluruh kawasan Tri-State (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) dan sejauh utara Massachusetts.
Wanita tergamak ketuk kepala ibu dengan periuk sampai mati
Seorang wanita tergamak mengetuk ibunya dengan periuk masak hingga mati dan kemudian menelefon pihak kecemasan dengan mengakui melakukan pembunuhan kejam itu.
Umat Islam di New York teruja sambut kedatangan Ramadan
Ribuan umat Islam di New York menyambut permulaan Ramadan pada Ahad, dengan berkumpul di Times Square yang simbolik.
Pemilu 2024: Biarpun jauh di New York, Cinta Laura Kiehl tidak lepas tanggungjawab mengundi
Biarpun Jauh Di New York, Cinta Laura Kiehl Tak Lepas Tanggungjawab Mengundi Sempena PEMILU 2024
Final Piala Dunia 2026 di New York
New York mengenepikan bidaan daripada Dallas untuk memastikan perlawanan final diadakan di bandar raya itu.
Apple Vision Pro mula dijual di New York
Apple Vision Pro dijual pada harga AS$3,499 atau RM16,500 dan dijual dengan storan 256 GB.
COVID-19, flu meningkat di AS ketika musim cuti, tingkat risiko kesihatan
Amerika Syarikat (AS) mengalami peningkatan kes flu dan COVID-19 di tengah-tengah musim cuti.
PBB gesa koridor kemanusiaan buat Gaza dibuka tanpa syarat
Beliau turut menyuarakan bahawa segala bentuk keganasan dan pertumbahan darah antara Palestin dan Israel ketika ini dihentikan serta merta.