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Winter storm pummels US east coast as residents urged to stay home Winter storm brings near-record snow to eastern US as 17 deaths reported
(about 9 hours later)
From the deep south to New York City, a powerful, far-reaching winter storm spread snow, ice, accidents, injuries and deaths on Saturday, as it continued a path north-east. A powerful, sprawling winter storm buried the eastern US in near-record snow on Saturday, leaving in its wake accidents, injuries and deaths from the deep south to New York City.
Since Friday, an estimated 50 million people in 2o states have heard winter weather warnings, watches or advisories. Early Saturday morning, the blizzard moved into some of the nation’s largest cities, with gale-force winds spewing snow into Washington DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York City. Early Saturday morning, the blizzard moved into some of the nation’s largest cities and an estimated 80 million people in 20 states heard winter weather warnings, watches or advisories. Gale-force winds of up to 60mph spewed snow into Washington DC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York City, and authorities in seven states attributed 17 deaths to the storm, mostly in car accidents.
“It seems the weather forecasters got it right this time,” New York governor Andrew Cuomo said at a morning press conference. “There is a blizzard.”“It seems the weather forecasters got it right this time,” New York governor Andrew Cuomo said at a morning press conference. “There is a blizzard.”
Related: East coast winter storm: 10 governors declare state of emergency – liveRelated: East coast winter storm: 10 governors declare state of emergency – live
Like officials all around the east coast, he warned people to stay off the roads: “I don’t care how superb a driver, how big a four-wheel drive vehicle you have, the roads are barely passable.”Like officials all around the east coast, he warned people to stay off the roads: “I don’t care how superb a driver, how big a four-wheel drive vehicle you have, the roads are barely passable.”
“The roads are technically open,” he added. “But if you really do not need to leave your house, I can’t stress enough you should not leave your house.” Cuomo and governors in 10 other states declared emergency conditions, and New York City slid to an almost total standstill when the governor and mayor Bill de Blasio banned road travel and shut down most public transit. The city closed bridges, tunnels and outdoor subway service, and most Broadway shows canceled performances.
Cuomo said he was particularly concerned about flooding conditions – “what I consider the worst of Mother Nature’s wrath” – in New York City and along Long Island. “The roads are technically open,” Cuomo said. “But if you really do not need to leave your house, I can’t stress enough you should not leave your house.”
So far, nine people are believed to have died in connection with the storm, and hundreds of car accidents and disabled vehicles were reported in state after state. By 4pm local time, nearly 20in of snow had fallen in Central Park, with as much as 30in expected before the storm’s end Sunday. New Yorkers skied down 5th avenue and could hardly see the tops of skyscrapers past a few or past a few blocks.De Blasio predicted the storm would rank among the five worst snowstorms in the city’s history.
By Friday afternoon, Nashville, Tennessee police estimated that 200 car accidents had occurred, the Tennessean reported. Virginia state police on Saturday morning told CBS News that nearly 1,000 storm-related accidents were reported. Cuomo said he was particularly concerned about flooding conditions – “what I consider the worst of Mother Nature’s wrath” – in New York City and along Long Island. Swells rivaled those of hurricane Sandy in some areas, though officials insisted the storm did not rival the 2012 disaster.
The national weather service said it was too soon to tell whether the snowfall will break records around Washington DC and Baltimore, but it certainly threatens to. “Either way, we’re looking at a significant event,” NWS meteorologist Frank Pereira said. His fears were well founded, though not necessarily for New York. Icy, coastal flooding pushed into Jersey shore, Delaware and Maryland towns after the morning high tide, and officials anxiously awaited the evening tide. Hurricane-force winds swept in from the ocean, and 21-foot waves broke sea barriers in some areas.
Hundreds of people were stranded for hours, some for half-a-day or more, along highways where traffic halted amid snowdrifts and ice. Emergency crews handed out snacks, fuel and water, and trapped drivers and passengers tried to make the most of the situation by commiserating on buses.
Tennessee and North Carolina police said they had responded to hundreds of accidents, and Virginia state police reported nearly 1,000 storm-related accidents.
Halfway through the storm, meteorologists could not say whether the snowfall would break records. “Either way, we’re looking at a significant event,” NWS meteorologist Frank Pereira said.
The full force of the storm could dump enough snow on Washington to eclipse the 17.8in of a massive storm that struck in 2010, and could rival the “Knickerbocker” storm of 1922, when a record 28in fell.The full force of the storm could dump enough snow on Washington to eclipse the 17.8in of a massive storm that struck in 2010, and could rival the “Knickerbocker” storm of 1922, when a record 28in fell.
“It does have the potential to be an extremely dangerous storm that can affect more than 50 million people,” said Louis Uccellini, director of the weather service. The snowfall, expected to continue into Sunday, could easily cause more than $1bn in damage and could rank in the top 10 to ever hit the region. “It does have the potential to be an extremely dangerous storm that can affect more than 50 million people,” said Louis Uccellini, director of the weather service.
Along the eastern seaboard, panicking customers cleared grocery store shelves Friday.
Most of those killed since the storm began earlier in the weekend died in traffic accidents. One man died in Kentucky after his car collided with a salt truck; two people died in Tennessee and Virginia after their cars slid off roadways; and four people, including two children, were killed in accidents in North Carolina.
The storm also brought power outages in the region. About 40,000 customers in New Jersey had no power by Saturday morning, and another 8,000 in Virginia were without power.The storm also brought power outages in the region. About 40,000 customers in New Jersey had no power by Saturday morning, and another 8,000 in Virginia were without power.
Up to 19in of snow could fall before the day is out, and by Saturday morning, Central Park already had 6in of snow on the ground. The more unsettling forecast for New York and New Jersey, however, predicted coastal flooding in some areas that are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy, particularly along the Long Island coastline and Jersey shore.
Related: East coast winter storm - in picturesRelated: East coast winter storm - in pictures
New Jersey governor Chris Christie also told residents to stay indoors. “The most urgent need for our residents is to stay inside … We’re getting two to three inches of snow an hour at this point.”New Jersey governor Chris Christie also told residents to stay indoors. “The most urgent need for our residents is to stay inside … We’re getting two to three inches of snow an hour at this point.”
The national airport in Washington DC recorded 14in of snowfall by early Saturday morning, with as much as 24in expected in total by the storm’s end Sunday. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency there, and made the rare decision to shut down all public transport. Near Washington DC, snowfall totals neared 20in, and the national airport in Washington DC recorded 14in of snowfall by early Saturday morningand mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency there. She made the rare decision to shut down all public transport.
In Baltimore, Maryland, the national guard was called on to city streets, where officers waited out the storm parked in the middle of intersections in armored vehicles.In Baltimore, Maryland, the national guard was called on to city streets, where officers waited out the storm parked in the middle of intersections in armored vehicles.
Natl Guard out in BMore...this is on President St downtown pic.twitter.com/j9CZrVT1E8Natl Guard out in BMore...this is on President St downtown pic.twitter.com/j9CZrVT1E8
From Friday to Sunday, airlines have canceled more than 7,600 flights. Airports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington DC all but shut down operations, with 90% of flights into and out of New York’s busy LaGuardia airport canceled. Every flight into or out of of Atlantic City, New Jersey was canceled. Almost 90% of flights from Baltimore were canceled. Airlines canceled more than 7,600 flights, and 90% of flights into and out of New York’s busy LaGuardia airport alone were canceled. Every flight into or out of of Atlantic City, New Jersey was canceled. Almost 90% of flights from Baltimore were canceled.
The blizzard caused travel chaos as far away as the UK, where more than 45 flights to and from the US were cancelled.The blizzard caused travel chaos as far away as the UK, where more than 45 flights to and from the US were cancelled.
Tree limbs so low they scratched our car! pic.twitter.com/KhSu1p1MluTree limbs so low they scratched our car! pic.twitter.com/KhSu1p1Mlu
Alexandria, Virginia had a foot of snow by midnight. As far south as Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, local media outlets have reported icy conditions weighing down trees and making roads slick. States in the south-east saw the bulk of airline cancellations on Friday.Alexandria, Virginia had a foot of snow by midnight. As far south as Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, local media outlets have reported icy conditions weighing down trees and making roads slick. States in the south-east saw the bulk of airline cancellations on Friday.
Parts of Nashville, Tennessee saw 9in of snow and heard thunder overnight. That was almost triple what was predicted, and made the storm the 13th largest in Nashville’s history.Parts of Nashville, Tennessee saw 9in of snow and heard thunder overnight. That was almost triple what was predicted, and made the storm the 13th largest in Nashville’s history.
Nashville snowstorm hit earlier and harder than expected: https://t.co/Zxxo5CF9Jt pic.twitter.com/Rw6IozcJyQNashville snowstorm hit earlier and harder than expected: https://t.co/Zxxo5CF9Jt pic.twitter.com/Rw6IozcJyQ
By Sunday afternoon, however, the airlines hope to be back to a full schedule to handle the typical influx of business travellers heading out to start a week on the road. Overall, the airlines have canceled about 15% of their scheduled flights in the US for Friday and Saturday. By Sunday afternoon, however, airliners hope to be back to a full schedule to handle the typical influx of business travelers heading out to start a week on the road. Overall, the airlines have canceled about 15% of their scheduled flights in the US for Friday and Saturday.
One bit of good news: Saturday is the slowest travel day of the week. There are a little more than 22,000 flights scheduled to, from or within the US, according to FlightAware. That’s about 5,000 fewer flights and 400,000 fewer passengers than on Thursday or Friday. Officials in search of a silver lining reminded residents that Saturday is the slowest travel day of the week, and expressed gratitude to people who stayed indoors. There are a little more than 22,000 flights scheduled to, from or within the US, according to FlightAware. That’s about 5,000 fewer flights and 400,000 fewer passengers than on Thursday or Friday.