A big winter storm hit the Northeastern United States today, bringing heavy snow and dangerous driving conditions from Pennsylvania to Maine. In some parts of Massachusetts and New York, meteorologists said that more than 12 inches of snow fell. In some coastal areas, winds gusted to more than 45 mph.
New York, Boston, and Philadelphia airports reported long delays and cancellations, and officials told people who didn't need to travel to stay home. In places where the power went out, state officials set up emergency response centers and worked around the clock to clear roads and get the power back on.
“Our crews are working around the clock, but we’re asking people to stay home and let us do our jobs,”
There could be dangerous ice conditions overnight because of the cold weather, but the storm is expected to get better by late evening.
Communities Brace for School Closures and Transportation Disruptions
Local officials in the Northeast say that schools in some districts are getting ready for either a late start or a full closure because of the storm. They also warned that the storm's effects would likely last until tomorrow. After workers checked the roads, several public school systems in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts said that decisions would be made early in the morning.
Transit systems also had problems as the storm got worse. Bus lines in hilly or rural areas were canceled for a short time because it was hard to see, but commuter rail services said trains were running slower and schedules were shorter. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City told riders to expect longer wait times while sending more staff to clear platforms and keep the subway running.
Emergency management told people to keep an eye on local notifications all night because sidewalks and untreated roads may become especially dangerous for morning commuters as temperatures drop.
Utility companies told customers to get ready for emergencies and keep their phones charged in case of long outages, especially in areas with a lot of wind and snow. Even though the storm is expected to calm down by late evening, officials stressed that recovery efforts could last well into the next day.
