Millions Affected as Blizzard Shuts Down Major US Cities
News Desk
New York: A historic winter storm paralysed large swathes of the US Northeast on Monday, prompting emergency declarations in at least seven states and triggering a sweeping government response as snow piled up to record levels in some cities.
The blizzard dumped more than two-and-a-half feet of snow across parts of the region, with Providence, Rhode Island, recording over 32 inches — a city record. New York City’s Central Park measured more than 19 inches by early afternoon, while Boston and Philadelphia each saw around 14 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Authorities scrambled to manage the fallout as roads became impassable, commuter rail and bus services were suspended, and more than 7,400 flights were cancelled across major airports including John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and Boston Logan.
In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city remained under a state of emergency even after a travel ban was lifted at noon. “A hazardous travel advisory remains in place through midnight tonight,” he said, urging residents to avoid unnecessary trips so emergency crews could clear snow-clogged streets.
Governor Kathy Hochul activated 100 National Guard members to assist with response efforts in Long Island, New York City and the lower Hudson Valley, areas hit hard by heavy snowfall and coastal winds gusting up to 60 mph. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey also declared an emergency and directed non-essential state workers to stay home.
The storm’s impact rippled far beyond transportation. More than 600,000 homes and businesses nationwide were without power by Monday afternoon, including roughly one in 10 customers in Massachusetts. The United Nations headquarters in Manhattan closed for the day, and Broadway theatres went dark as schools across the region shut their doors.
Federal authorities said the Federal Emergency Management Agency would continue disaster-response operations despite a funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring emergency support and staff deployment remained uninterrupted.
Meteorologists warned that recovery could take days. “It’ll probably take a week to dig out,” one forecaster said, noting that fierce winds had created snowdrifts several feet high, complicating cleanup efforts.
For many residents, the storm revived memories of historic blizzards of decades past. In Long Island’s New Hyde Park, families found themselves snowed in, with some unable to open front doors as drifts blocked entrances. Yet amid the disruption, children welcomed an unexpected snow day while adults braced for the long process of shovelling and recovery.
As the storm slowly moves out, officials caution that lingering hazardous conditions and power restoration efforts will continue to test the region in the days ahead.
