Millions of Americans along the East Coast are bracing for a catastrophic blizzard that will shut down cities and halt major travel hubs with more than two feet of snow.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the ‘potent’ Nor’easter will cause blizzard conditions and ‘impossible travel’ along the I-95 corridor from Baltimore to Boston.
Nearly 54 million people reside in the path of the storm that could dump up to two feet of snow – or 26 inches – and reach wind gusts up to 70mph.
The storm could begin as rainfall in some places on Sunday morning before worsening into heavy snowfall and strong winds that may create whiteout conditions overnight and into Monday.
Meteorologists have warned that this type of weather event is extremely rare – and will be spoken about for decades to come because of the intense impact it will have.
The blizzard is set to rewrite the rule book on storms, as the Nor’easter will turn into a bomb cyclone, meaning it will intensify rapidly and could have historic impacts.
‘Blizzard conditions will quickly materialize from the Eastern Shore of Maryland through southeastern New England, making travel extremely treacherous in these areas,’ NWS said.
‘This isn’t your average “couple inches and slush by noon” event. This has the makings of the storms we study for years. The kind that rewrite seasonal totals, shut the city down, and get talked about decades later,’ storm chaser Nicholas Isabella wrote on X.
The catastrophic blizzard – New York City’s first in nearly a decade – will batter the city later on Sunday
Nearly 54 million Americans are bracing for impact from an intense blizzard that is set to blanket major cities in up to two feet of snow (pictured: snow preparation on New York City)
A Blizzard Warning is in effect for New York City from 1pm Sunday afternoon through 6pm Monday
Over 7,000 flights have been disrupted due to the storm, with 6,578 cancelations and nearly 900 delayed so far through Tuesday, with New York City’s airports most impacted, according to FlightAware.
The Big Apple is preparing for its first blizzard since 2017. A warning will be in effect for the city from noon on Sunday to 6pm on Monday.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the Big Apple, Long Island and portions of the Hudson Valley.
In the city, where the heaviest snowfall is expected, accumulations could begin from 7pm Sunday and last to noon Monday, per the National Weather Service.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned New Yorkers to stay off the roads unless it was ‘absolutely necessary.’
‘If you can stay home, stay home,’ he wrote.
The city will deploy 2,200 snow plows, hundreds of shovelers and employees to combat snow accumulation.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency starting noon Sunday ahead of what she called a ‘severe’ storm.
For the first time on record, all 21 counties in New Jersey are simultaneously under a blizzard warning, according to MyRadar Weather meteorologist Matthew Cappucci.
Forecasters warned that the ‘potent’ Nor’easter will cause blizzard conditions and ‘impossible travel’ along the I-95 corridor from Baltimore to Boston
New York City will deploy 2,200 snow plows, hundreds of shovelers and employees to combat snow accumulation
Mayor Mamdani stands in front of a perilous mound of snow from the city’s last storm
The weather service warned that the storm could cause whiteout conditions that ‘will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.
‘The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages.’
AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus said, ‘The clinging nature of the snow and high winds will put a strain on trees and power lines, with extensive power outages anticipated.’
Some of the heaviest snow is projected to fall overnight Sunday, with as much as two inches per hour at times in some areas, before tapering off by Monday afternoon.
The rapid intensification of the storm could reach ‘unheard of’ levels and may even cause it to look like a hurricane on satellite, according to meteorologist Brady Harris.
‘That kind of strengthening is almost unheard of. At peak intensity, this storm may even look like a hurricane on satellite, with a tight core and powerful wind field wrapping around it,’ he wrote on X.
‘This level of intensification is exactly why impacts could become so extreme.’
