Blizzard threat grips US East Coast

Forecasters warned that the system, driven by a rapidly intensifying low-pressure area offshore, could rank among the most significant winter storms to hit parts of the Northeast in nearly a decade. Blizzard warnings covered New York City, much of New Jersey and coastal communities stretching northwards into southern New England, while winter storm warnings extended from the central Appalachians to Maine, affecting another 19 million residents.

The National Weather Service said heavy snowfall rates of up to two inches per hour were possible in major metropolitan areas, accompanied by wind gusts exceeding 50 miles per hour along the coast. Such conditions were expected to create near-zero visibility, dangerous wind chills and widespread travel disruption from Sunday into Monday.

Governors in several states, including New York and New Jersey, declared states of emergency ahead of the storm’s arrival. Officials in New York City and across New Jersey announced bans on nonessential travel beginning at 9pm on Sunday, urging residents to remain indoors as conditions deteriorated. Public transport services prepared for suspensions or reduced schedules, while airlines cancelled hundreds of flights at major hubs including John F Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport.

Emergency management agencies positioned snowploughs, salt trucks and utility crews in anticipation of power outages and blocked roads. Coastal communities also faced the risk of minor to moderate flooding, particularly during high tide cycles, as strong onshore winds combined with heavy surf.

Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center, said the scale and intensity of the storm distinguished it from more routine winter systems. While nor’easters regularly bring heavy snow to the region, he noted that several years had passed since a storm of comparable magnitude affected such a densely populated corridor.

Meteorologists described the system as a classic nor’easter, fuelled by a sharp temperature contrast between cold Arctic air over the mainland and relatively warmer Atlantic waters. As the storm tracked north-eastward along the coastline, it underwent rapid strengthening, a process sometimes referred to as bombogenesis, leading to a steep drop in atmospheric pressure and intensifying winds.

Forecast models showed the heaviest snowfall banding likely to set up across parts of eastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley, Long Island and interior sections of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In these areas, accumulations of 12 to 24 inches were possible, with locally higher totals where snow bands persisted. Urban centres such as New York and Boston faced the prospect of paralysed roads and shuttered businesses if projections held.

Authorities emphasised the risk posed not only by snow depth but also by wind-driven drifting, which can quickly bury vehicles and obstruct emergency access routes. Power companies warned that the combination of heavy, wet snow and strong gusts could bring down tree limbs and power lines, potentially leaving thousands without electricity.

Schools across multiple states announced closures or shifts to remote learning, while vaccination and testing sites for seasonal illnesses were temporarily suspended. Hospitals reviewed staffing plans to ensure continuity of care for vulnerable patients, particularly in rural areas where road access can be cut off during severe storms.

Climatologists pointed out that while major winter storms remain a feature of the region’s weather patterns, variability from year to year has increased. Some winters in the past decade have seen below-average snowfall in large cities along the Interstate 95 corridor, followed by isolated but high-impact events. Researchers continue to study how broader climatic shifts may be influencing storm tracks, precipitation intensity and the balance between snow and rain.