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| East coast blizzard: New York considers total travel ban in massive storm – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.52pm GMT | |
| 16:52 | |
| We’re expecting New Jersey governor Chris Christie to update the public on conditions in the state within the hour. | |
| The blizzard forced the governor and Republican presidential candidate to return from the New Hampshire campaign trail yesterday after he first committed to staying there. | |
| Some parts of New Jersey are already seeing coastal flooding, an unnerving state of affairs for some communities which are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy in 2012. | |
| 4.48pm GMT | |
| 16:48 | |
| Blizzard of 2016 could be among top five in New York City history | |
| This storm will surpass 20 inches accumulation in New York City – when that happens ... it will be in the top five snowstorms literally in our recorded history,” said New York City mayor Bill de Blasio on Saturday. | |
| “That says that people have to take very seriously what’s going on here, and recognize there’s a lot of danger, and a lot of disruption that’s going to take place here because of this storm.” | |
| De Blasio said he is coordinating with Governor Andrew Cuomo to determine if the state city and state should enact a total travel ban, a decision he said could come within the hour. | |
| Anyone who’s come into the city from the suburbs should turn around and go back. This is very, very fast accumulation, and I guarantee if people linger they will get stuc k.” | |
| As of 10am, there was already 11.5 inches of snow in Central Park, considered the benchmark location for New York snowfall. City officials are preparing for as much as 30 inches. | |
| Already, department of sanitation commissioner Kathryn Garcia said that the city has 2,500 piece of equipment clearing snow, and that workers had to start earlier than expected, at 5am Saturday. | |
| We are seeing very intense snowfall out there, and I really do ask people get off the roads, because it’s dangerous if you’re a professional driver – it’s doubly dangerous if you don’t have that training.” | |
| De Blasio also asked New Yorkers to shovel out fire hydrants that first responders might need during the course of the storm, and to watch closely any children playing in the snow. | |
| 4.28pm GMT | 4.28pm GMT |
| 16:28 | 16:28 |
| New York officials consider travel ban as snow falls faster than expected | |
| We’re listening to New York Mayor Bill De Blasio’s press conference now. Here’s a taste of what he’s saying: | We’re listening to New York Mayor Bill De Blasio’s press conference now. Here’s a taste of what he’s saying: |
| Updated | |
| at 4.31pm GMT | |
| 3.50pm GMT | 3.50pm GMT |
| 15:50 | 15:50 |
| The National Zoo in Washington DC is closed … but the panda cameras keep rolling. | The National Zoo in Washington DC is closed … but the panda cameras keep rolling. |
| Tian Tian woke up this morning to a lot of snow, and he was pretty excited about it. 🐼🌨 #blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/GrhI9t1u7j | Tian Tian woke up this morning to a lot of snow, and he was pretty excited about it. 🐼🌨 #blizzard2016 pic.twitter.com/GrhI9t1u7j |
| 3.36pm GMT | 3.36pm GMT |
| 15:36 | 15:36 |
| Reader Dan Broome sends a fairly representative photo of what New York looks like right now. Here at Guardian NY HQ the East River has vanished and the World Trade Center is a faint outline in the haze. | Reader Dan Broome sends a fairly representative photo of what New York looks like right now. Here at Guardian NY HQ the East River has vanished and the World Trade Center is a faint outline in the haze. |
| 3.17pm GMT | 3.17pm GMT |
| 15:17 | 15:17 |
| Mayor of DC: 'stay home' | Mayor of DC: 'stay home' |
| Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser is also giving a press conference, and emphatically urging people to get off the roads. | Washington DC mayor Muriel Bowser is also giving a press conference, and emphatically urging people to get off the roads. |
| “We need the public to listen, is to stay home and to stay off of the streets. That includes people who are attempting to drive, but that also includes people who are walking. Our plows and emergency vehicles cannot do their jobs with you on the streets. … There are too many people on the streets both driving and walking. We need you to stay home. | “We need the public to listen, is to stay home and to stay off of the streets. That includes people who are attempting to drive, but that also includes people who are walking. Our plows and emergency vehicles cannot do their jobs with you on the streets. … There are too many people on the streets both driving and walking. We need you to stay home. |
| She says the city has already had up to 13in of snow “and we expect the second half of this storm to drop another 10in of snow. We also expect the winds to be the most significant today.” | She says the city has already had up to 13in of snow “and we expect the second half of this storm to drop another 10in of snow. We also expect the winds to be the most significant today.” |
| Bowser adds that city “911 operators last night received 300 calls and everybody received a response.” | Bowser adds that city “911 operators last night received 300 calls and everybody received a response.” |
| But an official with the Department of Homeland Security warns that emergency personnel are “very much still in the emergent phase”. | But an official with the Department of Homeland Security warns that emergency personnel are “very much still in the emergent phase”. |
| “We’re still in that time frame when real bad things can happen. … Once the snow stops and the winds calm, that’s when we get to the response phase, that’s when we clean the city up.” | “We’re still in that time frame when real bad things can happen. … Once the snow stops and the winds calm, that’s when we get to the response phase, that’s when we clean the city up.” |
| 3.13pm GMT | 3.13pm GMT |
| 15:13 | 15:13 |
| NYC suspends bus service | NYC suspends bus service |
| Ronnie Hakim, MTA president, says the city will suspend bus service at noon local time because buses having too much trouble with the snow. | Ronnie Hakim, MTA president, says the city will suspend bus service at noon local time because buses having too much trouble with the snow. |
| She says the subways will keep running, though “weather continues to be a concern around the maintenance of our above-ground, our exterior subway service.” | She says the subways will keep running, though “weather continues to be a concern around the maintenance of our above-ground, our exterior subway service.” |
| Governor Cuomo adds: “We have several thousand power outages, primarily on Long Island, that sounds like a lot in a situation like this, actually that’s not overly problematic.” | Governor Cuomo adds: “We have several thousand power outages, primarily on Long Island, that sounds like a lot in a situation like this, actually that’s not overly problematic.” |
| He adds that the storm is expected to be a long one: “They’re talking about two full days of weather but once that clears we’ll be in a better position.” | He adds that the storm is expected to be a long one: “They’re talking about two full days of weather but once that clears we’ll be in a better position.” |
| 3.10pm GMT | 3.10pm GMT |
| 15:10 | 15:10 |
| Cuomo: 'roads open but incredibly dangerous' | Cuomo: 'roads open but incredibly dangerous' |
| New York governor Andrew Cuomo is giving a press conference | New York governor Andrew Cuomo is giving a press conference |
| “It seems the weather forecasters got it right this time,” he starts. “There is a blizzard, it’s come up the coast … it’s now hit New York, the eye of the storm is supposed to hit at 11 o’clock. I have declared a state of emergency.” | “It seems the weather forecasters got it right this time,” he starts. “There is a blizzard, it’s come up the coast … it’s now hit New York, the eye of the storm is supposed to hit at 11 o’clock. I have declared a state of emergency.” |
| He notes that a state of emergency gives the governor power “to do certain contracting abilities, to close systems, close roads, etc.” | He notes that a state of emergency gives the governor power “to do certain contracting abilities, to close systems, close roads, etc.” |
| Anyone who’s looked out the window understands the conditions … the snow is combined with very high gusts of wind which makes traveling and the road situation dangerous and difficult. We are keeping an eye on what I consider the worst of mother nature’s wrath, which are flooding conditions in New York City and along Long Island. It poses a real safety consideration, it causes tremendous damage in its aftermath, so we’re keeping an eye on that. | Anyone who’s looked out the window understands the conditions … the snow is combined with very high gusts of wind which makes traveling and the road situation dangerous and difficult. We are keeping an eye on what I consider the worst of mother nature’s wrath, which are flooding conditions in New York City and along Long Island. It poses a real safety consideration, it causes tremendous damage in its aftermath, so we’re keeping an eye on that. |
| Cuomo says the national guard are “fully deployed”, as are equipment teams, cleanup crews and state police. “Everything that can be done has been done in terms of deployment of resources.” | Cuomo says the national guard are “fully deployed”, as are equipment teams, cleanup crews and state police. “Everything that can be done has been done in terms of deployment of resources.” |
| “The roads are open,” he says. “But that is a deceptive statement. We have not closed the roads. However as I’ve said before, and I can’t say it forcefully enough, unless there is an emergency situation or a critical need, you should not be on the roads.” | “The roads are open,” he says. “But that is a deceptive statement. We have not closed the roads. However as I’ve said before, and I can’t say it forcefully enough, unless there is an emergency situation or a critical need, you should not be on the roads.” |
| They are incredibly dangerous. I don’t care how superb a driver, how big a four-wheel drive vehicle you have, the roads are barely passable. As always happens, our own citizens can create the greatest issues. You go out on the road all it takes is one road to get stuck and the road is not passable, the truck cannot plow. | They are incredibly dangerous. I don’t care how superb a driver, how big a four-wheel drive vehicle you have, the roads are barely passable. As always happens, our own citizens can create the greatest issues. You go out on the road all it takes is one road to get stuck and the road is not passable, the truck cannot plow. |
| And the situation quickly descends into chaos. We have seen this time and time again.… I’ve seen situations where people are stranded in cars overnight. | And the situation quickly descends into chaos. We have seen this time and time again.… I’ve seen situations where people are stranded in cars overnight. |
| He concludes with a familiar warning: “the roads are technically open. but if you really do not need to leave your house. I can’t stress enough you should not leave your house.” | He concludes with a familiar warning: “the roads are technically open. but if you really do not need to leave your house. I can’t stress enough you should not leave your house.” |
| 2.55pm GMT | 2.55pm GMT |
| 14:55 | 14:55 |
| Some parts of Washington DC are buried in nearly 24in of drifting snow, and 80,000 people in New Jersey have suffered power outages, the AP reports. Some more from their most recent roundup of the storm: | Some parts of Washington DC are buried in nearly 24in of drifting snow, and 80,000 people in New Jersey have suffered power outages, the AP reports. Some more from their most recent roundup of the storm: |
| 2.21pm GMT | 2.21pm GMT |
| 14:21 | 14:21 |
| Harry Enten, erstwhile friend of the Guardian and political guru at FiveThirtyEight, also happens to obsess over the weather (especially snow). He’s tweeted out that one weather model has 24in falling in New York City: “I don’t think it’s right, but to give you an idea of this storm is only just beginning …” | Harry Enten, erstwhile friend of the Guardian and political guru at FiveThirtyEight, also happens to obsess over the weather (especially snow). He’s tweeted out that one weather model has 24in falling in New York City: “I don’t think it’s right, but to give you an idea of this storm is only just beginning …” |
| “The bottom line is... If I were making a forecast for NYC, I’d go with something like 15 to 30 inches right now. I’m not kidding.” | “The bottom line is... If I were making a forecast for NYC, I’d go with something like 15 to 30 inches right now. I’m not kidding.” |
| Don't think this will roll through NYC later on, but the "dry slo"t over Philly right now could lighten rates. pic.twitter.com/bjnPBW2ed7 | Don't think this will roll through NYC later on, but the "dry slo"t over Philly right now could lighten rates. pic.twitter.com/bjnPBW2ed7 |
| 2.05pm GMT | 2.05pm GMT |
| 14:05 | 14:05 |
| Flooding is a serious danger for New Jersey, especially in shore towns like Brigantine, where high tide hit around 8am. | Flooding is a serious danger for New Jersey, especially in shore towns like Brigantine, where high tide hit around 8am. |
| Video from Brigantine seawall #sjjonas #flooding #brigantine #jerseyshore @ACPressSkeldon @ThePressofAC pic.twitter.com/qnta9QIzED | Video from Brigantine seawall #sjjonas #flooding #brigantine #jerseyshore @ACPressSkeldon @ThePressofAC pic.twitter.com/qnta9QIzED |
| Flooding has not quite reached the devastating surge of hurricane Sandy, but it’s serious nonetheless, and could cut some towns off from the rest of the state. | Flooding has not quite reached the devastating surge of hurricane Sandy, but it’s serious nonetheless, and could cut some towns off from the rest of the state. |
| Current view of JFK in Sea Isle #6abcAction #stormjonas pic.twitter.com/tLwlMqZnqF | Current view of JFK in Sea Isle #6abcAction #stormjonas pic.twitter.com/tLwlMqZnqF |
| In New York, the conditions are blinding – the wind is strong enough to make the snowflakes sting. | In New York, the conditions are blinding – the wind is strong enough to make the snowflakes sting. |
| @EricHolthaus Near whiteout conditions in Greenwich Village. Wind really cranking now. pic.twitter.com/axFQMnMdkM | @EricHolthaus Near whiteout conditions in Greenwich Village. Wind really cranking now. pic.twitter.com/axFQMnMdkM |
| 1.56pm GMT | 1.56pm GMT |
| 13:56 | 13:56 |
| Postcards of the east coast, blizzard edition. | Postcards of the east coast, blizzard edition. |
| 1.43pm GMT | 1.43pm GMT |
| 13:43 | 13:43 |
| “We’re New Yorkers, we’re tough, but I don’t care how superb a driver you are, I don’t care how great a four-wheel-drive vehicle you have,” was governor Andrew Cuomo’s good morning to New York on CNN this morning. | “We’re New Yorkers, we’re tough, but I don’t care how superb a driver you are, I don’t care how great a four-wheel-drive vehicle you have,” was governor Andrew Cuomo’s good morning to New York on CNN this morning. |
| “My strong advice is unless it’s truly an emergency, people have no business being on the roads.” | “My strong advice is unless it’s truly an emergency, people have no business being on the roads.” |
| Cuomo noted that the National Weather Service increased its predicted snowfall for New York, from 12in to 16-24in. “We’re afraid as the conditions continue to deteriorate that roads could be come impassable and then the situations compounds.” | Cuomo noted that the National Weather Service increased its predicted snowfall for New York, from 12in to 16-24in. “We’re afraid as the conditions continue to deteriorate that roads could be come impassable and then the situations compounds.” |
| Kathryn Garcia, New York City’s sanitation commissioner and the woman who leads the city’s small army of plows, salt trucks and crews, also urged people to stay off the roads. “These are conditions that are dangerous for our professional drivers to be in and you really cannot be on the road.” | Kathryn Garcia, New York City’s sanitation commissioner and the woman who leads the city’s small army of plows, salt trucks and crews, also urged people to stay off the roads. “These are conditions that are dangerous for our professional drivers to be in and you really cannot be on the road.” |
| “This is an extremely difficult storm to fight,” she told the network. “It’s falling so fast that you’re going to face very very difficult conditions.” | “This is an extremely difficult storm to fight,” she told the network. “It’s falling so fast that you’re going to face very very difficult conditions.” |
| Cuomo also explained that his “worst case scenario” of “negative synergy” is flooding. “The snow is one thing, we can deal with snow. It’s the compounding effect and negative synergy if you will. You put the snow together with gusts of wind up to 60mph and you have places like Long Island and coastal areas and flooding.” | Cuomo also explained that his “worst case scenario” of “negative synergy” is flooding. “The snow is one thing, we can deal with snow. It’s the compounding effect and negative synergy if you will. You put the snow together with gusts of wind up to 60mph and you have places like Long Island and coastal areas and flooding.” |
| He said that he waited to declare a state of emergency in New York until Saturday as to impede commerce as little as possible. “There’s a cost to basically closing New York City, and you really don’t want to do it unless you have to do it. You have to do it when it becomes a public safety issue and this morning i believe it became a public safety issue.” | He said that he waited to declare a state of emergency in New York until Saturday as to impede commerce as little as possible. “There’s a cost to basically closing New York City, and you really don’t want to do it unless you have to do it. You have to do it when it becomes a public safety issue and this morning i believe it became a public safety issue.” |
| Governor Chris Christie had a similar message for his state of New Jersey, where in some places the snow is falling 2-3in an hour. Christie said the national guard was on standby and the state ready to handle the storm – but that people should stay home and report power outages immediately to their utility providers and police. He said there are shelters in every county of the state. | Governor Chris Christie had a similar message for his state of New Jersey, where in some places the snow is falling 2-3in an hour. Christie said the national guard was on standby and the state ready to handle the storm – but that people should stay home and report power outages immediately to their utility providers and police. He said there are shelters in every county of the state. |
| “For everybody, please stay inside, please don’t drive today unless it is an absolute emergency.” | “For everybody, please stay inside, please don’t drive today unless it is an absolute emergency.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.46pm GMT | at 1.46pm GMT |
| 1.16pm GMT | 1.16pm GMT |
| 13:16 | 13:16 |
| Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the blizzard pummeling the eastern United States, from Arkansas to Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York, where the view outside the Guardian – usually of the Brooklyn Bridge ad the East River – now shows a blizzard. | Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the blizzard pummeling the eastern United States, from Arkansas to Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York, where the view outside the Guardian – usually of the Brooklyn Bridge ad the East River – now shows a blizzard. |
| Ten governors have declared a state of emergency, as did the mayor of Washington DC, a city in the bullseye of the storm. Fourteen inches of snow have fallen on the nation’s capital, there are 21ft waves being reported off the Delaware coast, and life up and down the east coast has slid to a stop. | Ten governors have declared a state of emergency, as did the mayor of Washington DC, a city in the bullseye of the storm. Fourteen inches of snow have fallen on the nation’s capital, there are 21ft waves being reported off the Delaware coast, and life up and down the east coast has slid to a stop. |
| The National Weather Service has predicted the storm could bring snowfall to rival the biggest blizzards on record, and warned of high surf, gusting winds, and floods for coastal towns and cities. Governors and mayors have warned residents to stay indoors and off the streets for their own safety – and stressed the danger of blinding snow carried by intense winds. | The National Weather Service has predicted the storm could bring snowfall to rival the biggest blizzards on record, and warned of high surf, gusting winds, and floods for coastal towns and cities. Governors and mayors have warned residents to stay indoors and off the streets for their own safety – and stressed the danger of blinding snow carried by intense winds. |
| Those dangers were made clear on Friday. North Carolina police reported hundreds of traffic accidents, and authorities in several states attributed eight deaths to the icy roads and weather. Airports around the region canceled more than 7,600 flights, leaving thousands (including several reporters for the Guardian) stuck in travel limbo. | Those dangers were made clear on Friday. North Carolina police reported hundreds of traffic accidents, and authorities in several states attributed eight deaths to the icy roads and weather. Airports around the region canceled more than 7,600 flights, leaving thousands (including several reporters for the Guardian) stuck in travel limbo. |
| Stay tuned for all the latest as the snowstorm swirls through the lives of some 50 million people. | Stay tuned for all the latest as the snowstorm swirls through the lives of some 50 million people. |
| 1.00pm GMT | 1.00pm GMT |
| 13:00 | 13:00 |
| Maraithe Thomas | Maraithe Thomas |
| A reminder from Guardian US style chief Maraithe Thomas, in case you’re wondering why we haven’t anthropomorphized a blizzard. | A reminder from Guardian US style chief Maraithe Thomas, in case you’re wondering why we haven’t anthropomorphized a blizzard. |
| We do not use the winter storm names that the Weather Channel comes up with. They come up with these names for marketing purposes, and they are not recognized by the National Weather Service. | We do not use the winter storm names that the Weather Channel comes up with. They come up with these names for marketing purposes, and they are not recognized by the National Weather Service. |
| So this weekend’s blizzard is not called Winter Storm Jonas or Storm Jonas or Jonas. It is just a storm. It’s called storm. | So this weekend’s blizzard is not called Winter Storm Jonas or Storm Jonas or Jonas. It is just a storm. It’s called storm. |