Frozen Skies: 5,000+ Flights Cancelled in Record Snowstorm
A historic winter storm slams the US East Coast, dumping record snow and cancelling 5,706 flights as airports shut down amid a travel ban and power outages.
A major storm struck the US East Coast on Monday, bringing record-breaking snowfall, forcing the cancellation of millions and thousands of flights.
The National Weather Service reported that parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts received approximately 37 inches (94 cm) of snow, while New York City's Central Park received more than 19 inches.
A government agency warned that commuting conditions in New York were "nearly impossible." More than 600,000 homes and businesses lost power on the East Coast, with New Jersey and Massachusetts the hardest hit.
Winter storm warnings have been issued from North Carolina to northern Maine, and some warnings have also been issued for parts of eastern Canada.
According to the National Weather Service, snow is expected to continue on Monday, with some areas of the Northeast Coast expected to receive a total of 1 to 2 feet (61 cm) by Tuesday morning.
Rhode Island, America's smallest state, received the most snow during the storm. In fact, according to local media, it became the state's worst snowstorm ever.
The state capital, Providence, received 36 inches of snow, breaking the existing record of 28.6 inches set in February 1978 for the largest snowstorm.
"It was absolutely devastating," Candice Hrenskin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Boston, told the New York Times. "We were as surprised as everyone else."
Nonessential travel was also banned in Rhode Island and neighboring Connecticut. Later, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey also imposed travel restrictions.
Referring to a major highway in the state, she said in an online post, "I am banning all nonessential driving in southeastern Massachusetts — and reducing the speed limit on the Pike to 40 mph [25 kmh]."
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"Whiteout conditions are making travel extremely dangerous," she added. "If you get stranded, it will be difficult for help to reach you... I strongly urge everyone to stay off the roads, wherever you live." According to poweroutage.us, approximately 300,000 people in Massachusetts were without power, including 85% of customers in Barnstable County, which includes all of Cape Cod.
In New York City, a travel ban brought the city of over 8 million people to a virtual standstill before it was lifted at noon local time. All roads, highways, and bridges were closed.
In Connecticut and New Jersey, there were concerns that falling trees and branches could make roads dangerous and cause further power outages.
In Providence, a city spokesperson told The Providence Journal that more than 300 vehicles were towed for parking in the path of snowplows.
However, by Monday afternoon, tow operations had ceased, and drivers were assisting those whose vehicles were stranded.
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Meanwhile, people traveling within the US faced difficulties on Monday.
According to the tracking website FlightAware, the number of canceled flights within, to, or from the US has exceeded 5,706. The site shows that 98% of flights were canceled at New York's LaGuardia Airport, and 91% of flights were canceled at JFK—New York City's main airport hub, which typically handles more than 335,000 passengers daily.
About 15 inches (38 cm) of snow fell at both locations.
Boston's Logan International Airport canceled 92% of its outbound flights on Monday, while Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey canceled 92% and Philadelphia International Airport canceled 80% of its flights.
Snow will continue to pound the region on Tuesday, when more than 2,000 flights to and from the US are expected to be canceled, with Boston and New York airports the hardest hit.
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