Additional Coverage:
- New York City schools to go remote on Monday as winter storm batters US (businessinsider.com)
Winter Storm Unleashes Heavy Snow and Ice Across US, Causing Widespread Disruptions
A massive winter storm is currently gripping the United States, bringing a potent mix of heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain to millions of residents. The sprawling weather system, which initiated its eastward trek from the south-central US on Friday night, is projected to span over 2,000 miles, from New Mexico all the way to Maine.
As of Sunday morning, parts of the mid-Atlantic have already accumulated several inches of snow, with the storm expected to intensify as it pushes into the Northeast later today. In response to the escalating snowfall in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced that schools will transition to remote learning on Monday. New York Governor Kathy Hochul previously authorized all state employees to work remotely, urging other employers to follow suit to minimize road traffic.
Expected Impact and Hardest Hit Regions
Heavy snowfall is forecast to persist across large sections of the US throughout Sunday morning, with the focus shifting towards eastern regions by evening. The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts over 12 inches of snow from the Ohio Valley through the northern mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with some areas in New England and the inner Northeast potentially seeing almost double that amount.
Beyond snow, freezing rain and lingering icing are likely to cause power outages, tree damage, and hazardous travel conditions across parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Major metropolitan areas in the storm’s path include Atlanta, Charlotte, Richmond, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.
Some states have already borne the brunt of the storm. Arkansas experienced approximately seven inches of snowfall from Friday night into Saturday, with the NWS anticipating a second wave overnight into Sunday.
Oklahoma, which also saw several inches of snow on Friday night, is bracing for an additional round of snowfall. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, speaking to Fox News on Saturday, expressed greater concern over potential power outages than the snow itself.
Indeed, power disruptions are already widespread, with over 800,000 customers from New Mexico to Virginia without electricity as of Sunday morning, according to PowerOutage.us.
Travel Disruptions Expected to Continue
The NWS warns that heavy snowfall is likely to result in “widespread travel disruptions and closures” that could extend for several days. Air travel has been significantly impacted this weekend, with thousands of flights canceled on both Saturday and Sunday.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina and Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta are currently the most affected airports, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. Many airlines are offering fee waivers for rebooking flights to and from affected regions.
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- New York City schools to go remote on Monday as winter storm batters US (businessinsider.com)