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Snowstorm Pummels Eastern Seaboard Snowstorm Pummels Eastern Seaboard
(about 1 hour later)
• A rare spring snowstorm is sweeping through the Northeast, the fourth nor’easter of the month of March. • A rare spring snowstorm is sweeping through the Northeast, the fourth nor’easter of the month.
• At least a foot of snow is expected from the suburbs of Philadelphia to New York City to coastal Connecticut and Long Island, with significant snow from Washington to Boston.• At least a foot of snow is expected from the suburbs of Philadelphia to New York City to coastal Connecticut and Long Island, with significant snow from Washington to Boston.
• More than 4,300 flights have been canceled and La Guardia Airport has suspended all flights.• More than 4,300 flights have been canceled and La Guardia Airport has suspended all flights.
• New York City’s subways are still running, but some lines have switched to local service and the managing director of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Veronique Hakim, said that express subway service could end in the afternoon. • One person was killed in New Jersey, in a bus crash the governor attributed to the storm.
• New York City’s subways are still running, but some lines have switched to local service.
• New Jersey Transit suspended all bus service at 3 p.m.• New Jersey Transit suspended all bus service at 3 p.m.
• Commuter railroads, including Metro-North, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak are operating on limited schedules. Long Island Rail Road is still running on a regular schedule.• Commuter railroads, including Metro-North, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak are operating on limited schedules. Long Island Rail Road is still running on a regular schedule.
• Thrill-seekers tempted to take a CitiBike for a spin through New York City were thwarted — CitiBike closed down at 1 p.m. New York City’s public schools, like dozens of other school systems, were closed, but Broadway shows are on.
New York City’s public schools, like dozens of other school systems, are closed, but Broadway shows are going on. The storm hobbled airports, stranding passengers as they scrambled to find alternative options or lodging. Hundreds of incoming and outbound flights were canceled at every major airport in the Northeast.
The storm hobbled airports across the Northeast, stranding passengers as they scrambled to find alternative options or lodging. Renu Khandelwal, 45, and her daughter Muskaan, 15, were stuck at La Guardia after their flight home to Fayetteville, Ark., was canceled. “There are no hotels available,” Ms. Khandelwal said as she scrolled through her phone,
At Philadelphia International Airport, more than 450 flights were grounded; at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, 344 flights were canceled; and nearly 400 flight were canceled at Logan International in Boston. so she and her daughter were gearing up to camp in the terminal alongside their suitcases.
In New York, more than 2,350 flights were canceled at area airports. La Guardia advised customers that it was shutting down flight operations at noon. Newark canceled 845 flights, nearly 75 percent of its daily total, and Kennedy canceled 618.
“These numbers severely under-describe” the problem, Rick Cotton, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said Wednesday morning. “They really don’t give a good picture of what will happen later in the day.”
At La Guardia, Renu Khandelwal, 45, and her daughter Muskaan, 15, were stranded after their flight home to Fayetteville, Ark., was canceled.
“There are no hotels available,” Renu said as she scrolled through her phone. “Because of the snowstorm, they’re saying that they’re not taking anyone.”
If they couldn’t find a hotel room, her daughter said they planned to camp in the terminal alongside their suitcases. “We just hope we can get out tomorrow morning now,” the younger Ms. Khandelwal said.
Nearby, Sharon McCormick, 55, and her husband, John, were clicking on hotel links only to have “not available” pop up over and over again. “I’d be willing to stay here,” Ms. McCormick said. “Hopefully the bar just stays open.”Nearby, Sharon McCormick, 55, and her husband, John, were clicking on hotel links only to have “not available” pop up over and over again. “I’d be willing to stay here,” Ms. McCormick said. “Hopefully the bar just stays open.”
— John Surico and Jonathan Wolfe— John Surico and Jonathan Wolfe
By mid-afternoon, the storm had dumped 15 inches of snow in Sabillasville, Md., 75 miles northwest of Baltimore.
Across the Mid-Atlantic region, thick clots of wet snow bowed tree branches, buried early flowers and made driving treacherous.Across the Mid-Atlantic region, thick clots of wet snow bowed tree branches, buried early flowers and made driving treacherous.
The heaviest snow is expected to fall in a relatively narrow area — no more than 50 miles wide — that was gradually shifting eastward, said Trent Davis of the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, N.J. By midafternoon, the storm had dumped 15 inches of snow in Sabillasville, Md., 75 miles northwest of Baltimore. In the big cities, Washington, D.C., saw about 3 inches of snow, Baltimore about 4 inches, and Philadelphia about 4 inches. Nine inches fell near Allentown, Pa.
“Banding is starting to become a big thing,” he said. “The highest amounts will be where the bands set up.” Seven inches had fallen just outside Allentown, Pa., as of 1 p.m. A little over 4 inches had fallen in Central Park in New York City by 2 p.m., but forecasters expected one to two inches an hour to fall throughout the evening.
The snow moved north gradually. By 2 p.m. a little over 4 inches had fallen in Central Park in New York City, but forecasters are expecting one to two inches an hour to fall throughout the day. This could be the biggest spring snowstorm in New York City history, breaking the record of 10 inches set on April 3, 1915.
“It’s going to get a lot worse as the day goes by,” said John Homenuk, a meteorologist at New York Metro Weather. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned of “blizzard-like conditions” starting in late afternoon, and the Weather Service said that driving near Philadelphia would become “very difficult to impossible, including during the evening commute.” In New Jersey, Gov. Philip D. Murphy declared a state of emergency Tuesday night ahead of the storm, and in New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Wednesday for New York City and its suburbs.
Washington, D.C., had about 3 inches of snow, Baltimore about 4 inches, and Philadelphia about 4 inches as of early Wednesday afternoon. The storm is expected to hit Boston in early evening, with as much as nine inches expected.
In New Jersey, Gov. Philip D. Murphy declared a state of emergency Tuesday night ahead of the storm, and in New York, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo declared a state of emergency at 1 p.m. on Wednesday for New York City and its suburbs. In some areas, the storm is expected to be accompanied by winds gusting up to 50 miles an hour, which — combined with the weight of wet snow — could bring down tree limbs and trigger power failures. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is also expected.
If the forecast holds, this could be the biggest spring snowstorm in New York City history. The current record was set on April 3, 1915, when 10 inches fell. As of 5 p.m., about 7,200 homes in New Jersey lacked power, Governor Murphy said, mostly near Atlantic City and likely because of ice on power lines. Another 4,000 homes were without power in West Virginia, and about 3,000 across Pennsylvania.
The storm is expected to hit Boston by the afternoon rush, with as much as nine inches expected.
In some areas, the storm is expected to be accompanied by winds gusting up to 50 miles an hour, which — combined with the weight of wet snow — could bring down tree limbs and trigger power failures. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is also expected along the Eastern Seaboard.
— Andy Newman— Andy Newman
Today’s storm is the fourth serious snow to wallop the Northeast this month — the others were on March 2, March 7 and March 13.Today’s storm is the fourth serious snow to wallop the Northeast this month — the others were on March 2, March 7 and March 13.
This is an odd occurrence in March — regionwide storms of this size typically develop only about once a year, said the director of the National Weather Service, Louis W. Uccellini.This is an odd occurrence in March — regionwide storms of this size typically develop only about once a year, said the director of the National Weather Service, Louis W. Uccellini.
But every few years, storms do tend to come in bunches, Dr. Uccellini said. “The episodic nature of these storms is not weird,” he said. “It’s actually a characteristic of these storms.”But every few years, storms do tend to come in bunches, Dr. Uccellini said. “The episodic nature of these storms is not weird,” he said. “It’s actually a characteristic of these storms.”
(Dr. Uccellini knows whereof he speaks. He wrote the book —“Northeast Storms, Vols. 1 and 2”— on the subject.) (Dr. Uccellini knows whereof he speaks. He wrote the book — “Northeast Storms, Vols. 1 and 2”— on the subject.)
The culprit, he explained, is something called the North Atlantic Oscillation, which is related to airflow over this part of the planet. When the N.A.O. is positive — as it was from December to February — the air moves fast and storms do not have time to build up a lot of power.The culprit, he explained, is something called the North Atlantic Oscillation, which is related to airflow over this part of the planet. When the N.A.O. is positive — as it was from December to February — the air moves fast and storms do not have time to build up a lot of power.
But in March, the N.A.O. went negative. That means the flow gets blocked. “You get a trough that sits off northeast Canada, or between Canada and Greenland, and it tends to lock in cold air in the northeastern U.S.,” Dr. Uccellini said.But in March, the N.A.O. went negative. That means the flow gets blocked. “You get a trough that sits off northeast Canada, or between Canada and Greenland, and it tends to lock in cold air in the northeastern U.S.,” Dr. Uccellini said.
And because the air over the North Atlantic, to the south and east of the Northeast, stays warm and moist, Dr. Uccellini said, that contrast between cold air over land and warm air over sea “can be conducive to rapid cyclogenesis.” That is a fancy way of saying, “It makes big snowstorms.”And because the air over the North Atlantic, to the south and east of the Northeast, stays warm and moist, Dr. Uccellini said, that contrast between cold air over land and warm air over sea “can be conducive to rapid cyclogenesis.” That is a fancy way of saying, “It makes big snowstorms.”
This storm is likely to be the last big snowstorm of the season. The N.A.O. is predicted to go neutral-to-positive by the end of the week.This storm is likely to be the last big snowstorm of the season. The N.A.O. is predicted to go neutral-to-positive by the end of the week.
— Andy Newman— Andy Newman
Standing in Central Park with a cluster of children around him, Matt Hoek pulled a list from his pocket: snow-covered bench and snow-covered taxicab, bus with chains, pine cone. He had the children — his two daughters, who are 2 and 5, and some of their friends from around their Upper West Side neighborhood — filling their snow day on a scavenger hunt. Standing in Central Park with a cluster of children around him, Matt Hoek pulled a list from his pocket: snow-covered bench, snow-covered taxicab, bus with chains, pine cone. He had the children — his two daughters, who are 2 and 5, and some of their friends from around their Upper West Side neighborhood — on a snow-day scavenger hunt.
“That was a big find for us — a person on a CitiBike,” Mr. Hoek said as the group paused so one of the boys could climb a tree. “We actually found one.” (This was before CitiBike shut down for the day at 1 p.m.)“That was a big find for us — a person on a CitiBike,” Mr. Hoek said as the group paused so one of the boys could climb a tree. “We actually found one.” (This was before CitiBike shut down for the day at 1 p.m.)
Central Park was hardly crowded as snow caked the lawns and sidewalks and stinging winds blew onto the faces of visitors walking along Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Still, the storm was not enough to deter the runners, dog walkers and tourists. Central Park was sparsely populated snow caked the lawns and sidewalks and stinging winds blew along Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Still, the runners, dog walkers and tourists held their ground.
Miguel Navío, visiting from Barcelona, said, “We don’t see snow like this — it’s pretty impressive,” as he stood near the reservoir. “We don’t see snow like this — it’s pretty impressive,” Miguel Navío, visiting from Barcelona, said as he stood near the reservoir.
On Wednesday afternoon, Sebastian Kiffer’s family was supposed to fly to Orlando (where, by the way, it was sunny with a high of 70 degrees) to continue their American vacation. Instead, the family, who live near Cologne in Germany, were building a snowman in the park because their flight had been canceled. Some of the dogs looked like they were being dragged, slinking down as the snow hit their faces. A Labrador retriever wore an annoyed expression as he stepped through the snow to tend to his business. But a scruffy black-haired dog named Holly pranced through the snow with a coat cinched around her torso and a pink ball in her mouth.
“The weather is the weather,” Mr. Kiffer said. “So we make the best of it.” Her owner, Caroline Koeppel, was similarly delighted. “It’s beautiful,” she said, looking out at nearly empty expanse of the Great Lawn. “My dog has the park to herself.” She wished for enough snow to be able to cross-country ski through the park. “I’m in here no matter what,” she said.
Some of the dogs looked like they were being dragged, slinking down as the snow hit their faces. One Labrador retriever wore an annoyed expression as he stepped through the snow to tend to his business. But a scruffy black-haired dog named Holly pranced through the snow with a coat cinched around her torso and a pink ball in her mouth.
Her owner, Caroline Koeppel, was similarly delighted. “It’s beautiful,” she said, looking out at nearly empty expanse of the Great Lawn. “My dog has the park to herself.” She wished for more snow — even a foot — so there would be enough for her to cross-country ski through the park. “I’m in here no matter what,” she said.
Holly had started off the walk on the Upper East Side with a shoe for each paw, but by this point she was down to just two as she skittered around with her ball. “There are no squirrels,” Ms. Koeppel said. “I think she’s a little disappointed.”Holly had started off the walk on the Upper East Side with a shoe for each paw, but by this point she was down to just two as she skittered around with her ball. “There are no squirrels,” Ms. Koeppel said. “I think she’s a little disappointed.”
— Rick Rojas— Rick Rojas