**Severe Winter Storm causes chaos on East Coast: over 500k power outages, 10k flight cancellations across regions including MA, NJ, DE, RI. Travel bans im
**Massive Winter Storm Wreaks Havoc on U.S. East Coast**
A severe winter storm sweeping across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions on Monday has resulted in blizzard conditions, leading to widespread power outages and mass flight cancellations. Over 40 million people were under blizzard warnings along a 700-mile stretch of the East Coast from Maryland to Maine. Travel bans have been imposed in multiple states as the region grapples with treacherous road conditions and whiteout blizzards.
**Power Outages**
- More than half a million power outages reported across the East Coast as of midday Monday (Source: poweroutage.us)
- Massachusetts has experienced over 289,000 outages
- New Jersey is seeing more than 141,000 outages
- Delaware and Rhode Island have reported tens of thousands of outages
**Flight Cancellations and Delays**
- Over 10,000 flights cancelled through Tuesday (Source: FlightAware)
- Flights were largely suspended from Philadelphia north to Boston
- Major hubs in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia have seen significant cancellations
- Baltimore and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia also reported a considerable number of cancellations
- Airlines began cancelling flights on Saturday to prepare for the storm
- Monday saw 5,600 cancellations, while Sunday recorded more than 3,400 cancellations
- Over 1,700 U.S. flights have been cancelled for Tuesday
**Snowfall Totals**
- Snow accumulation exceeded double digits on Monday
- Parts of Long Island and New Jersey reported over 2 feet (Source: CBS News New York)
- Babylon, NY: over 29 inches
- Freehold, NJ: more than 26 inches
- Over 19 inches of snow piled up in Central Park, NYC, making it the ninth largest snowfall in the city's recorded history dating back to 1869.
**Historic Blizzard Strikes Northeastern U.S., Causing Travel Disruptions and School Closures**
In a sweeping snowstorm that hit the region on Monday, several cities imposed travel bans to ensure safety. As of 18:00 EST, here's an overview of the current status:
**New York City Lifts Travel Ban**
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani lifted the ban on nonessential travel at noon.
- City schools will resume in-person learning on Tuesday.
- Road conditions remain icy and dangerous, prompting encouragement for New Yorkers to use public transportation when necessary and stay indoors whenever possible.
**New Jersey Travel Ban Lifted but Cautions Remain**
- The statewide travel ban was lifted around 14:00 EST; however, motorists are urged to avoid unnecessary travel due to hazardous road conditions.
**Boston and Massachusetts under Travel Advisories**
- Mayor Michelle Wu advises residents to stay off the roads amidst the severe weather.
- Governor Maura Healey issued a travel ban for the South Coast of Massachusetts, including Bristol, Plymouth, and Barnstable counties.
- Speed limits on the Mass Pike have been reduced to 40 mph due to treacherous road conditions.
**Westchester County Extends Road Ban**
- A road ban will remain in effect until 18:00 EST in Westchester County, north of New York City.
**National Weather Service Warnings**
- The National Weather Service described travel conditions as "nearly impossible."
**Historic Winter Storm Causes Chaos Across Northeast Corridor**
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared the recent winter storm "unprecedented" during its peak, predicting it could rank among the top 10 worst such events in the last 150 years.
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**Blizzard Conditions Cause Havoc on Interstate 95**
Heavy snowfall and strong winds created blizzard-like conditions along Interstate 95, a busy route running up the Northeast corridor. The severe weather led to widespread chaos on the highway.
- Drivers in Connecticut were forced to push their cars out of snow drifts.
- Multiple traffic accidents occurred, causing significant delays lasting hours.
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**Governor's Warning and Storm Impact**
Gov. Hochul warned residents about the severity of the storm, urging them to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. The storm caused widespread disruptions, with numerous schools, businesses, and public transportation services closed or delayed.
- The state declared a state of emergency due to the snowfall and blizzard conditions.
- Power outages were reported in several areas, leaving thousands without electricity.
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**Storm Predicted to Rank Among Top 10 Worst**
The National Weather Service has predicted that this storm could rank among the top 10 worst winter storms in the last 150 years, due to its impact and severity. The service warned of dangerous travel conditions and significant snowfall amounts throughout the region.
- As of now, the storm has dumped over two feet of snow in some areas.
- The severe weather is expected to continue for several more hours before gradually improving.
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