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‘Historic’ winter storm churns up blizzards but also relief as forecast punch fell short ‘Historic’ winter storm churns up blizzards but also relief as forecast punch fell short
(about 1 hour later)
From New York suburbs to Maine fishing ports, much of the East Coast faced a winter lockdown Tuesday as a wind-whipped storm — billed in advance as a “historic” blizzard — closed airports, shut down subway and rail lines and turned cities into snowy ghost towns. From New York suburbs to Maine fishing ports, much of the East Coast faced a winter lockdown Tuesday as a wind-whipped storm closed airports, shut down roads and rail lines and turned cities into snowy ghost towns.
But there also was something of a collective sigh of relief. But there also was something of a collective sigh of relief after bracing for what was billed in advance as a blizzard of “historic” proportions.
The warnings of a monster whiteout appeared to fall short, especially in New York and points south. The National Weather Service said the storm moved faster — and farther out to sea — than earlier tracking forecasts. The warnings of a monster whiteout appeared to fall short in some places, especially in New York and points south. The National Weather Service said the storm moved faster — and farther out to sea — than earlier tracking forecasts.
The result was still an impressive display of winter wrath. The result was still an impressive display of winter’s wrath.
Snowfall up to two feet deep was expected in some of the hardest-hit areas from eastern Long Island to Maine. Wind gusts exceeding 70 mph lashed parts of the coast. Snowfall exceeding two feet deep was expected in some of the hardest-hit areas from eastern Long Island to Maine. In Shrewsbury, Mass., about 25 miles west of Boston, snowfall was measured at more than 26 inches, and more than 28 inches in eastern Long Island, the National Weather Service reported.
“It feels like a hurricane with snow,” Maureen Keller told the Associated Press in Montauk on Long Island’s eastern tip. To the south, the snow totals dropped off: About eight inches in New York’s Central Park, about six inches in central New Jersey and less in Philadelphia.
On Cape Cod, officials warned about serious erosion and possible breaches of seawalls. Stores on Martha’s Vineyard were swarmed by people stocking up with provisions of all kinds. The snow, however, was made even more menacing by wind gusts of more than 70 mph lashing parts of the coast.
[VIDEO: Big blizzard falls short of forecasts]
“It feels like a hurricane with snow,” Maureen Keller told the Associated Press in Montauk on Long Island’s eastern tip, where snow was falling at two inches an hour at the peak of the storm.
On Cape Cod, officials warned about serious erosion and possible breaches of seawalls. South of Boston, homes were swamped by a storm surge in Scituate.
Stores on Martha’s Vineyard were swarmed by people stocking up with provisions of all kinds.
“It’s kind of like the Fourth of July weekend at the end of January,” Debbie Healy, a store clerk on the island, told the Vineyard Gazette.“It’s kind of like the Fourth of July weekend at the end of January,” Debbie Healy, a store clerk on the island, told the Vineyard Gazette.
But predictions of a knockout blow for nearly 58 million people along the coast seemed to fizzle as dawn broke.But predictions of a knockout blow for nearly 58 million people along the coast seemed to fizzle as dawn broke.
Blizzard warnings and most travel bans were lifted in New York and New Jersey. Subway and rail service was expected to resume later Tuesday, and the opening bell on the Stock Exchange rang as usual.Blizzard warnings and most travel bans were lifted in New York and New Jersey. Subway and rail service was expected to resume later Tuesday, and the opening bell on the Stock Exchange rang as usual.
The mayor of Danbury, Conn., used a Twitter post to sum up the feelings of high anxiety and then lower-than-expected snowfall totals.The mayor of Danbury, Conn., used a Twitter post to sum up the feelings of high anxiety and then lower-than-expected snowfall totals.
“Way too much hype,” wrote Mark D. Boughton.“Way too much hype,” wrote Mark D. Boughton.
But it was still a big-time snow day along the nation’s most densely populated corridor, and howling winds gave the storm an even more menacing feel. But it was still a big-time snow day along the nation’s most densely populated corridor.
In Boston, subway and transit systems were closed. About 500 National Guard members were on standby around the state.In Boston, subway and transit systems were closed. About 500 National Guard members were on standby around the state.
Even on Broadway, the show didn’t go on. Theaters were dark on Monday as officials urged people to head home before the storm hit.Even on Broadway, the show didn’t go on. Theaters were dark on Monday as officials urged people to head home before the storm hit.
Normally bustling commuter hubs were empty. In a rare moment, Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal was silent. “Still a beautiful site,” said an online post by the city’s Metropolitan Transit Authority. More than 15,000 customers were reported without power from New Jersey to Maine, utility companies reported. On Nantucket, pummeled on all sides by the swirling storm, the blackout extended across much of the island.
In cities, normally bustling commuter hubs were empty. In a rare moment, Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal was silent. “Still a beautiful site,” said an online post by the city’s Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Boston’s South Station was turned into a temporary shelter for the homeless.Boston’s South Station was turned into a temporary shelter for the homeless.
Amtrak announced it suspended rail service in the New England region and had limited operations between New York and Washington, which was spared the brunt of the storm. An estimated 7,700 flights have been canceled since Monday across the region.Amtrak announced it suspended rail service in the New England region and had limited operations between New York and Washington, which was spared the brunt of the storm. An estimated 7,700 flights have been canceled since Monday across the region.
And the weather-defying postal service? The storm halted mail delivery over large areas in Long Island and southern New England. U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Christine Dugas said service “will resume on Wednesday where it is safe to do so.”And the weather-defying postal service? The storm halted mail delivery over large areas in Long Island and southern New England. U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman Christine Dugas said service “will resume on Wednesday where it is safe to do so.”
In Maine and New Hampshire, states of emergency were declared, and officials said all state offices would be closed. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo ordered roads closed for all but essential travel. “Stay in your house until you hear otherwise,” she said.In Maine and New Hampshire, states of emergency were declared, and officials said all state offices would be closed. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo ordered roads closed for all but essential travel. “Stay in your house until you hear otherwise,” she said.
Across the region, utility companies put additional crews on standby for anticipated power outages from wind-toppled lines. There were no major accidents reported. But in Huntington, N.Y., a 17-year-old boy was killed late Monday after crashing into a light pole while snow-tubing with friends.
The National Weather Service, meanwhile, noted that nature can play tricks on even the most sophisticated forecasting technology. Some officials faced criticism for taking extreme precautions before the storm, which was predicted to be one of the most crippling in history.
Although the latest winter onslaught — dubbed Juno by the Weather Channel — will be one for the record books in some places, it may not endure in memories like other mega-tempests such as a February 1978 blizzard that paralyzed southern New England.
The National Weather Service, however, noted that nature can play tricks on even the most sophisticated forecasting technology.
“The science of forecasting storms, while continually improving, still can be subject to error, especially if we’re on the edge of the heavy precipitation shield,” said a statement. “Efforts, including research, are already underway to more easily communicate that forecast uncertainty.”“The science of forecasting storms, while continually improving, still can be subject to error, especially if we’re on the edge of the heavy precipitation shield,” said a statement. “Efforts, including research, are already underway to more easily communicate that forecast uncertainty.”
The storm delivered only a “glancing blow” around Baltimore and Washington, said meteorologist Jim Lee of the National Weather Service.The storm delivered only a “glancing blow” around Baltimore and Washington, said meteorologist Jim Lee of the National Weather Service.