March 14 (UPI) — A late-season winter storm has slammed the U.S. Northeast with heavy snow and powerful winds, causing power outages and damaging trees, particularly in Massachusetts.
Most power outages are concentrated in Massachusetts, though there are also outages reported in Rhode Island and New York. The outage with the most impact is in Worcester, Mass., where more than 20,000 are affected. About 32,000 people are affected due to power outages in the Northeast so far.
“The combination of very high winds and wet snow is causing power outages across the state,” Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. “Please continue to be smart, drive carefully if you have to or stay at home if you can. And please, don’t crowd the plows.”
Millions of people in the Northeast are under the effect of a winter storm or blizzard warning due to the storm that began dumping snow early Tuesday. Officials declared states of emergency in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Amtrak suspended all services between New York and Boston on Tuesday due to the storm until further notice.
The combination of strong winds and the weight of snow has downed tree branches in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New York.
As of noon, one town in Connecticut saw 13 inches of snow, Delaware’s city of Newark saw 4 inches of snow, the New York hamlet of Endwell saw 23 inches of snow and the Massachusetts city of Agawam saw 10 inches of snow — but the storm is not over yet. Nearly a foot of snow fell in Binghamton, N.Y., in four hours. More than 4 inches of snow has fallen in Central Park.
More than 5,900 domestic and international flights coming in or out of the United States have been canceled for Tuesday, mostly affecting New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport; New York’s LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport; Boston’s Logan International Airport; Maryland’s Baltimore-Washington International Airport; the Philadelphia International Airport; and Virginia’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy issued a statewide travel ban that began at 5 a.m. on Tuesday and ordered all non-essential first- and second-shift state employees to not report to work.
Dozens of schools throughout Connecticut are closed. Schools in New York City, Boston and Philadelphia are also closed.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency at midnight on Tuesday ahead of the storm. In New York City, which could see up to 18 inches of snow, the Metropolitan Transport Authority suspended above-ground train services at 4 a.m.
The U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., canceled votes for Tuesday and are scheduled to meet again late Wednesday.
Illinois State Police said snowy weather caused two crashes involving 34 cars on a highway in Chicago on Monday. Seven people had minor injuries.
The Virginia Department of Transportation reported wet roads in the Salem district but no roads affected by snow or ice on Tuesday. The agency warned drivers to watch for possible slick spots.
Delaware Gov. John C. Carney Jr. closed state government offices in New Castle County for Tuesday’s regular business hours. Non-essential employees are not to report to work during that period, while essential employees are required to report as scheduled.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said NJ Transit has suspended all bus services because of the storm. Officials in New Jersey also closed state offices for all non-essential employees on Tuesday.
“During these threatening conditions, I urge all New Jerseyans to remain off the roads so our first responders and public safety officers can safely and efficiently handle emergency situations,” Christie said.
The National Weather Service warned that more than a foot of snow is likely to fall inland, accompanied by strong winds.
“A major winter storm is unfolding across interior portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S. Winter storm warnings are in effect from eastern West Virginia to Maine, and blizzard warnings from eastern Pennsylvania to southwest Maine,” the NWS said in a statement. “Snowfall amounts in excess of a foot are likely inland along with strong and gusty winds. High winds and tidal flooding are going to be an issue for coastal areas north of the Outer Banks.”
