Storms roll across US, from Calif. to New York
Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled and hundreds of schools shut their doors as the latest in a series of massive storm systems pounded much of the nation with heavy snow.
Blizzard warnings were in effect Tuesday for the Sierra Nevada range in California and Nevada. A winter storm warning covered parts of the Northeast, including Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Parts of the Midwest also were under siege.
“I strongly encourage everyone in Connecticut to stay off the roads ... unless absolutely necessary,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement.
Tuesday’s storm will be followed by an even larger system sweeping from the southern Plains to the Midwest, New England and possibly the midAtlantic states with snow from Thursday to Friday, AccuWeather meteorologists warned.
“Widespread travel disruptions will likely occur due to the storm’s enormous reach,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. Developments:
⬤ Winter weather advisories and warnings were issued for much of the Upper Midwest and Northeast.
⬤ New York City got the most snow the area has received all winter.
⬤ Parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas continue to recover from severe weather that hit the area Sunday and Monday. Dozens of injuries and at least one death were reported.
Heavy snow hits Northeast
Schools across southern New England either closed or delayed opening as the most significant snowfall of what has been a mild winter hit overnight. Up to 8 inches of snow blanketed some communities.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority tweeted that its “Power and Signal Departments are working on a power issue that is impacting the signal system on multiple lines and is impacting some stations as well. Trains my be asked to stand by at stations.”
The heaviest snowfall was predicted in east central New York, western and central Massachusetts, and southern New Hampshire, southern Vermont and western Maine, where a foot of snow was possible.
Most flight cancellations or delays were concentrated in the Northeast. More than 470 flights were canceled and 900 were delayed by midmorning Tuesday, according to FlightAware.com.
NYC’s ‘biggest snowfall’ of the winter
All five boroughs of New York City saw a mix of snow and sleet Monday night and Tuesday morning. Manhattan and Brooklyn saw no more than 2 inches – still the biggest snowfall for the city this winter. Parts of the Bronx got more than 5 inches.
The city Sanitation Department said more than 2,000 of employees worked Monday into Tuesday, operating more than 700 salt spreaders, 2,000 plowable vehicles – and even 50 new bike lane plows.
“New Yorkers may have forgotten how to handle snow this winter, but #NewYorksStrongest haven’t!” the department tweeted. “700 million pounds of salt. Yeah. We’re ready.”
Blizzards in California
Winter weather continued to hit the Golden State. The most significant conditions were in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Lake Tahoe area near the Nevada border. The Greater Lake Tahoe Area and Mono County were under a blizzard warning through Tuesday. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 3 feet and wind gusts as high as 60 mph were possible.
“Blizzard conditions will continue in the Sierra today,” the weather service warned. “Steady snowfall will continue ... with a heavier band expected to roll through during the evening commute. Avoid unnecessary travel!”
Los Angeles County and other nearby mountains also were expected to see moderate snow Tuesday, and other parts of Southern California will continue to have rain.
Peril in northern Plains
A low-pressure system swinging from the Rockies to the Dakotas could bring heavy snow across the northern Plains. The heaviest amounts were forecast along the North Dakota-South Dakota border into Wednesday morning. Up to 9 inches was forecast; more was possible in isolated areas.
“Strong easterly winds will also result in blowing snow,” the National Weather Service in Bismarck tweeted Tuesday. “Travel will be hazardous.”