Snowstorm Descends on NYC as Hundreds of Flights Canceled

A powerful winter storm descended on the US Northeast on Tuesday, dropping snow across the region while snarling commutes, shutting schools and canceling hundreds of flights.

Parts of Pennsylvania could see more than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow, while New York City is forecast to have as much as seven inches, according to the National Weather Service. As of Tuesday morning, however, there was little accumulation in Manhattan and the temperature was barely below freezing.

A winter storm warning is in effect for New York City until 6 p.m. local time. Wind chills in the city could make the temperature feel as low as 20F (-6.7C), according to the weather service.

Snow started falling in New York City’s Central Park at 2:22 a.m., according to David Roth, a meteorologist with the US Weather Prediction Center.

“With a mix of rain and snow, New York City will have a pretty bad morning commute,” he said early Tuesday. While some parts of the city could get up to two inches of snow per hour, the window for it to accumulate on the ground is narrow because after sunrise the snow will also be melting. “It could very well be a slushy mess this afternoon,” he said.

New York Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to say home, while the city’s public schools will hold classes remotely on Tuesday. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared a snow emergency, with public schools and municipal buildings closed.

Hundreds of flights have been canceled into and out of the region’s airports — including LaGuardia, Boston Logan and Newark Liberty International — according to FlightAware.com.

The heaviest snow will fall in Manhattan through 1 p.m., with as much as 1 to 1.5 inches per hour coming down, said Rob Carolan, owner of Hometown Forecast Services, which produces weather forecasts for Bloomberg Radio.

“It is the biggest snow storm in over two years,” Carolan said by telephone. “The heaviest snow will fall along the coast from New York City to New London to Providence.”

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority was planning on regular service for most lines on Tuesday.

In preparation, the city’s mass-transit system was fitting chains on bus wheels and preparing de-icing equipment to protect rail lines for its subways and commuter trains, MTA Chief Executive Officer Janno Lieber, said at a press briefing Monday.

More than 84,000 customers were without electricity in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia as of 7:30 a.m. local time, according to website poweroutage.us.

Polling sites will remain open in New York on Tuesday for special elections in the Bronx and Queens, including the vote to replace disgraced US Representative George Santos. Alternate side of the street parking will be canceled. All Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of New York will be closed Tuesday with no remote instruction.

(Updates with storm warning in third paragraph, power outages in 11th)

Top photo: Snow in New York in 2017.