Washington, February 23: A powerful winter storm has struck the northeastern United States, causing significant travel disruptions. Many cities have imposed travel bans, schools are closed, and thousands of flights have been canceled. From Washington to Boston, heavy snowfall and strong winds have been reported.
The National Weather Service has labeled this as a “major winter storm for the Northeast.” According to meteorologists, heavy snowfall is expected in the northern Mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions until Monday. Some areas could see snowfall rates of two to three inches per hour, with total accumulations reaching up to two feet. These conditions may render travel nearly impossible.
Winter storm warnings have been issued for several areas. The weather department in New York City has described this as a “potentially historic snowstorm.”
Travel restrictions in New York City began at 9 PM on Sunday and will last until Monday afternoon. Mayor Zohra Mamdani stated, “New York City has not faced a storm of this magnitude in the last decade. We urge New Yorkers to avoid all non-essential travel.” Schools in the city will also remain closed on Monday, marking the first traditional “snow day” since 2019.
New Jersey has also imposed travel restrictions starting at 9 PM. In Rhode Island, residents are advised to stay off the roads after 7 PM. As the storm intensified, several states declared emergencies.
Air travel has been heavily impacted as well. Reports indicate that airlines have canceled nearly 8,000 flights scheduled for Sunday and Monday, with the highest number of cancellations affecting Boston and New York. Approximately half of the flights at New York’s LaGuardia and JFK airports were canceled on Sunday, with over 3,500 domestic and international flights grounded by Sunday afternoon.
Boston and much of eastern Massachusetts are expected to receive up to two feet of snow, with wind speeds potentially reaching 75 miles per hour. The Boston weather department has termed this a “potentially historic and destructive storm.”
In Washington D.C., several inches of wet snow are anticipated. Federal agencies have announced a two-hour delay in operations, while many schools have opted for closures or delayed openings.
The weather service has warned that strong coastal winds could lead to flooding from Delaware to Cape Cod. The flooding could be severe enough to cause structural damage and inundate roadways.
Approximately 54 million people from Central Appalachia to coastal Maine are in the path of the storm, facing winter storm warnings.
According to the weather department, this storm is expected to move out of the northern New England region by Tuesday morning.
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