Snow storm (nor'easter) hits the East Coast of the United States hard
A historic snow storm called "Nor'easter", with heavy snow and strong winds, hit the eastern coast of the United States today, Saturday, causing the cancellation of thousands of flights, amid expectations that it will be classified as one of the strongest storms in recent years.
Warnings were issued to more than 55 million people on Saturday morning, in anticipation of flooding in coastal areas, possible power outages, falling trees, and disruption of facilities due to the expected snow storm, especially in the six New England states, according to CNN.
With a snowstorm warning, cities such as New York and Boston on Saturday morning bore the brunt of the storm, whose impact extended to the mid-Atlantic region.
Salt-sprayers and icebreakers crawled along New York's morning streets covered in a 10-centimeter layer of snow, and Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to stay home if they could.
About 3,500 flights were canceled Saturday for travel within or to and from the United States, according to flight tracking site FlightAware, and 701 flights were canceled for Sunday.
Meteorologists warned of "dangerous snowstorm conditions" along parts of the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts, with more than two feet of snow expected in the area around Boston, and strong winds potentially causing power outages in some areas. Emergencies in New York and New Jersey.
And meteorologists in the eastern region on Friday expected the storm to intensify quickly during the next 24 hours, a weather phenomenon sometimes referred to as a "bomb cyclone."
The snowstorm came on the heels of a similar winter storm that covered swathes of eastern North America, from Georgia to Canada, just two weeks ago, cutting power to thousands of homes and disrupting thousands of flights.
Early Saturday morning, Boston Public Works said 500 snowplows were operating on city streets.
"It's going to be very difficult," said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. "This is going to be a historic storm."
Meteorologists said they expect very cold temperatures with strong winds from Saturday night to Sunday morning.
"Return to your homes safely tonight and stay there over the weekend, and avoid non-essential travel," New York Governor Cathy Hochhol said in a statement, noting that heavy snow was expected in Long Island, New York City and the Hudson Valley in particular.
It also urged those who had to travel to fill up their car tanks and keep supplies such as snow scrapers, blankets and water in their cars.