A severe snowstorm in the northeastern US has caused significant disruptions, leaving nearly half a million people without power and prompting traffic restrictions across multiple states.
A major snowstorm has hit the northeastern United States, affecting states including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut, where over 30 cm of snow has fallen. Central Park in New York saw the highest snowfall, recording 38 cm by morning, marking the heaviest snowfall in a single storm in over five years. The storm is characterized by high winds and heavy, wet snow, leading to fallen trees and damage to power transmission lines, resulting in nearly 500,000 people losing electricity.
In response to the severe weather, authorities in New York have temporarily suspended traffic by closing streets, highways, and bridges to ensure public safety. Neighboring New Jersey has implemented a transportation ban that remains in effect throughout the day on all roads and highways. The storm has disrupted air travel significantly, with thousands of flights canceled both to and from the United States as well as within the country, exacerbating travel frustrations.
The current weather event follows a pattern of harsh winter storms that have impacted parts of the US since late January and into early February, characterized by unusually low temperatures and heavy snowfall. This ongoing pattern raises concerns about the broader effects of winter storms on infrastructure and public safety, particularly in regions not fully prepared for such extreme weather conditions.
