A rapidly developing storm is set to lash the US East Coast with up to a foot or more of snow beginning on Sunday, threatening a region that is only just recovering from a previous winter onslaught.
Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, cautioning on Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are expected to batter major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south.
“Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 and 2 feet (30–60 centimetres) are forecast for Boston and eastern Massachusetts, with gusts reaching 60 miles (96 kilometres) per hour, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a Saturday report from its Boston office.
The NWS headquarters warned that snowfall rates could exceed one inch (2.5 centimetres) per hour along parts of the East Coast, creating near-impossible travel conditions. The heavy, wet snow may also trigger widespread power outages.
Coastal flooding is anticipated in northeastern and mid-Atlantic states such as Delaware and New Jersey, where communities are expected to face extreme conditions from late Sunday into Monday morning.
More than 50 million Americans are in the path of the nor'easter, a powerful cyclone that forms along North America’s eastern seaboard.
In New York City, authorities and residents were preparing for a direct hit – the city’s first blizzard since 2016.
“We are now expecting between 13 and 17 inches of snow, but there is a slight chance we may see up to 20 inches, if not more,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani told a briefing.
“I am asking all New Yorkers to stay indoors and off the roads for your safety,” he added, warning that Monday morning’s commute “will be extremely hazardous.”
A major storm that swept across the eastern half of the country in late January was linked to more than 100 deaths nationwide, dumping heavy snow and sleet that froze into ice in some areas.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency from midday Sunday, releasing funds and enabling rapid deployment of resources to confront the imminent weather crisis.
