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New York City and other major metropolitan areas in the Northeast are bracing for heavy rain and snow. A powerful, fast-moving nor'easter It would destroy power and cause major disruption to travel, work, and school. Here's the latest information:
• Forecast: More than 6 inches of snow was reported across the Northeast early Tuesday, with widespread heavy snow expected. southeast It extends to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and southern New England. Up to 2 inches of snow is expected to fall per hour in the worst-hit areas. But even small changes in the storm's path could make a big difference in which cities are most affected.
• New York City: New York City could see its heaviest snowfall in more than two years on Tuesday. The city is under a winter storm warning until 6 p.m., with 5 to 8 inches of snow expected until 3 p.m. The heaviest snowfall is expected to occur between morning and midday, with winds of up to 30 mph.
• Boston: A winter weather warning is in effect for Boston until 7 p.m. The city could see 3 to 5 inches of snow, with the heaviest amounts falling between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with wind gusts up to 35 mph.The snow is expected to stop around 6 p.m.
• Philadelphia: Philadelphia is under a winter weather warning until 3 p.m., with 1 to 4 inches of snow expected and wind gusts up to 30 mph. There was a mixture of snow and rain in the city, and the rain seemed to stop around 2 p.m.
• Power outage: More than 115,000 customers in Pennsylvania were without power Tuesday morning, according to PowerOutage.us. The National Weather Service said the combination of thick, wet snow and strong winds with gusts as high as 40 miles per hour could cause damage to trees and power lines, resulting in more power outages in the region. .
• Affected schools: New York City public schools will go to remote learning on Tuesday. Classes have been canceled in other metropolitan areas, including Boston. Newark, New Jersey. and New Haven, Connecticut.
• A grueling Tuesday morning commute: Officials have warned that snow and rain could create dangerous conditions for travel. The heaviest snow is expected to fall during New Yorkers' morning commute. Gov. Phil Murphy said in an interview on 1010 WINS Tuesday morning that more than 250 car accidents have been reported to New Jersey State Police. In Boston, “low visibility and snow-covered roads will quickly make travel difficult starting Tuesday morning and will continue into the afternoon,” the weather service advised. The Massachusetts governor said clearing roads could take longer because wet snow, combined with subzero temperatures, can lead to ice formation.
• Residents urged to stay at home: Governors in several states, including New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, have urged people to work from home and avoid non-essential travel due to concerns about blizzards and strong winds. On Tuesday, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, in conjunction with other states, issued a ban on commercial vehicles on several interstates.
• More than 1,000 flights canceled: Air travel across the region has already been affected. More than 1,000 flights were canceled across the U.S. on Tuesday, with the majority to and from major airports in New York, Boston and New Jersey, according to FlightAware.
• Winter Storm Warning: Weather advisories and winter storm warnings are in effect Tuesday from the northern tip of Virginia, through Pennsylvania, and from New Jersey to the Massachusetts coast. The heaviest snowfall is expected to be in a very small area, with snowfall totals likely to vary widely between cities just 20 to 30 miles apart.
• Strong winds and flooding along the coast: Coastal flooding of 2 to 3 feet is also possible during high tides from New Jersey to southern New England, including Long Island and Connecticut. Strong winds of up to 45 mph are possible along the coast. Cape Cod could experience damaging wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
The snowy weather will be a significant change for the region, as many cities in the Northeast are experiencing record-warm winters. Historically, due to nor'easters like this one, February is the snowiest month of the year in many of the region's major cities.
“This is how Mother Nature is sending her love on Valentine's Day as the biggest snowstorm in three years hits New York City,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on 1010 WINS Tuesday morning. “We've been preparing for this, and as you can see, it's now in development.”
More than an inch of snow had fallen in New York City's Central Park before 8 a.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.
Hochul said authorities are trying to keep train and subway services as scheduled as possible.
“People are used to a fairly mild winter, so please take all the necessary precautions,” Hochul said on Monday. “If you can work remotely, that’s great because, as always, we want to keep the roads clear for snowplows.”
The governor acknowledged Tuesday that winter storms can be dangerous at times, but encouraged New Yorkers to enjoy the snow.
“It’s a great day for kids to be doing distance learning at home,” Hochul said. “Not only do you want your kids to do a good job, but at the end of the day, let them go out and have fun.”
In Massachusetts where you can see Boston up to 7 inches Gov. Maura Healey warned that snowfall may be so heavy that snowplows may not be able to keep up.
In New Jersey, Murphy warned people to “take this seriously” as parts of the state could see up to a foot of thick, wet snow. The state transportation commissioner urged residents to stay home and use “extreme caution” if they must go out.
CNN Meteorologists Eric Zerkel and Sarah Tonks, CNN's Rob Frese and Sarah Dewberry; Nic F. Anderson, Nikki Brown and Celina Tebor contributed to this report.
