- Blizzard Warnings in effect: Warnings cover major hubs including New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston, affecting more than 40 million people. This is the first blizzard warning for NYC since 2017.
- Extreme snow totals: Widespread accumulations of 12 to 24 inches are expected across the I-95 corridor. Heavy snow rates are occasionally reaching 2 to 3 inches per hour.
- Life-threatening conditions: Wind gusts of 50 to 75 mph are creating whiteout conditions and near-zero visibility.
- Travel bans active: New York City's citywide travel ban is in effect until noon today, closing all streets, highways, and bridges to non-emergency traffic. Similar bans or restrictions are active in Rhode Island and New Jersey.
- Aviation standstill: Over 10,000 flights have been canceled through Tuesday. Hubs like LGA are seeing cancellation rates over 97% for Monday.
- Widespread power outages: The combination of heavy, wet snow and high winds has triggered numerous outages. More than 500,000 customers are without power.
- States of Emergency: Governors in seven states have declared emergencies, urging residents to stay home until conditions improve.
A powerful and dangerous snow band is currently battering Massachusetts and Rhode Island, bringing near-zero visibility and life-threatening whiteout conditions.
The FOX Forecast Center says that this intense band is producing staggering snow rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour.
That snow is accompanied by fierce wind gusts ranging from 50 to 75 mph, which are creating massive snow drifts and contributing to widespread power outages.
Officials warn that travel has become nearly impossible as the storm continues its rapid intensification offshore and people are being urged to remain indoors and off the roads until the bands begin to taper off later this evening.
Quogue, New York, has officially reached a massive 26.0 inches of snow as the historic bomb cyclone continues to punish the south shore of Long Island.
This updated total places the community among the hardest-hit areas in the region, with over two feet of accumulation now complicating emergency response and snow removal efforts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York City Emergency Management and NYC Schools have opened three warming centers in the Rockaways to provide relief for residents currently struggling without power during this historic blizzard.
These centers are located at Far Rockaway High School on Bay 25th Street, Beach Channel High School on Beach Channel Drive, and P.S. 43 on Beach 29th Street.
Officials urge residents to use these facilities to stay warm and to check in on neighbors, particularly older adults and those with specific medical needs, while dialing 911 for any life-safety emergencies.
Restoration efforts are now officially underway as PSE&G begins the process of returning customers to grid power across the area. While the city continues to monitor the local grid for any further impacts to critical infrastructure, residents are encouraged to remain indoors while crews work through the extreme conditions.
Providence, Rhode Island, has officially recorded a massive 24.6 inches of snow so far as the historic bomb cyclone delivers its most intense impacts to the Ocean State.
This staggering total places the city at the high end of the forecast and has contributed to a total travel ban as visibility remains near zero across the region.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nesconset, New York, has officially recorded a staggering 25.6 inches of snow, establishing itself as one of the hardest-hit communities on Long Island during this historic 2026 blizzard.
This significant total follows a period of extreme intensification where snow rates reached 2 to 3 inches per hour, effectively burying the region under nearly two and a half feet of accumulation.
The massive report from Nesconset leads a series of record-breaking totals across Suffolk County, where communities like Shinnecock Hills have also reported over 24 inches.
With local highways in "rough shape" and visibility frequently dropping to near zero, officials are maintaining strict travel bans across Nassau and Suffolk counties while plowing operations struggle to keep pace with the ongoing accumulation.
Shinnecock Hills, New York, has officially reported a massive 24.8 inches of snow, making it one of the highest totals recorded so far during this historic bomb cyclone.
This report places the community at the heart of the storm's most intense snow bands, which have consistently hammered eastern Long Island with several inches of snow per hour.
Authorities continue to warn residents to stay off the roads as wind gusts and heavy drifts make travel impossible throughout the afternoon.
The power crisis across the Northeast is rapidly escalating, with outages officially skyrocketing to over 600,000 customers as the historic blizzard reaches its peak intensity.
Data from PowerOutage.com shows the most dramatic surge occurring within the last few hours as hurricane-force wind gusts of 50 to 75 mph collide with heavy, wet snow.
- Massachusetts: Now leading the region with over 216,000 outages as the storm's core moves toward New England.
- New Jersey: Remains a primary epicenter with 135,000 customers in the dark; in Ocean County alone, more than 13% of the population has lost power.
- Delaware: Nearly 40% of customers for some electric cooperatives have lost service, with statewide totals near 75,000.
- Maryland and Connecticut: Both states are reporting tens of thousands of outages as the regional grid continues to buckle under the strain.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Blizzard of 2026 has triggered the single largest two-day flight cancellation event of the 2026 travel season, with over 19,000 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. now disrupted.
According to FlightAware, 10,458 of those flights have been canceled outright as a "no-fly zone" effectively descends over the most populated air corridor in the world.
Beyond the major hubs, the FAA has ordered at least 13 regional airports to fully close, including Atlantic City International, Long Island MacArthur, and Wilmington, as crews become unable to keep runways clear against 3-inch-per-hour snow rates.
The chaos is even felt in snow-free zones like Orlando, Atlanta, and Chicago, where thousands of flights are being canceled or delayed due to crews and planes being trapped in the Northeast.
Airlines including Delta, American, United, and JetBlue have issued extensive travel waivers, allowing passengers to rebook through the end of the month as they prepare for what could be a multi-day recovery process.
The City of Brotherly Love has officially surpassed a major milestone in this historic nor'easter, with 13.7 inches of snow now recorded in Philadelphia.
This significant accumulation marks one of the most intense winter events for the city in recent years, contributing to the broader paralysis across the Northeast corridor.
The heavy snow has led to widespread travel disruptions and hazardous conditions, as the storm's powerful winds continue to create massive drifts across the city's streets.
While the 13.7-inch total is already substantial, officials warn that lingering snow bands could add slightly more to the final tally before the system fully pulls away later today.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair and CEO Janno Lieber joined FOX Weather this morning to discuss the agency's massive response as a historic blizzard continues to paralyze the New York City region.
While the city is under its first Blizzard Warning in nine years and a travel ban remains in effect for personal vehicles, Lieber emphasized that the transit system remains operational—albeit with significant safety adjustments.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The FOX Forecast Center is tracking the nor'easter as it blasts millions along the East Coast.
For the millions hunkered down in New York City, the question now is "when will it end?"
FOX Weather meteorologists say the worst of the storm should wind down around noon ET, but light snow may linger through the late afternoon hours.
FOX Weather is providing LIVE, around-the-clock coverage of Blizzard '26. With more than a dozen crews deploying into the storm, this is the place for the most comprehensive storm coverage.
Our team of meteorologists and correspondents will be Weathering It Together with you, reporting on the latest LIVE developments as the storm unfolds.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New data from PowerOutage.com shows power outages continue to surge along the Northeast coast as the intense blizzard 'bombs out' offshore. More than 525,000 customers are now without power across the region.
FOX Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen is LIVE from Manasquan, New Jersey, as a generational nor'easter hammers the Jersey Shore with blinding snow and hurricane-force winds.
The entire state is currently under a Blizzard Warning, marking the first statewide alert of its kind in decades.
The storm, which has rapidly intensified through a process known as bombogenesis, is delivering intense snow rates and has already pushed power outages across the Northeast past 500,000.
Wellfleet, Massachusetts has officially clocked a hurricane-force wind gust of 77 mph as the historic nor'easter reaches its peak intensity.
This remarkable reading leads a list of extreme wind reports across the region, including a 74 mph gust in Stony Brook, New York, and 73 mph gusts recorded in Kingston, Rhode Island, as well as Norwell and Chatham, Massachusetts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Captured by the GOES-East satellite from its geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above Earth, this simply stunning view reveals the immense scale and classic "comma" shape of the 2026 bomb cyclone.
The high-definition imagery highlights the storm's incredible intensification, showcasing a distinct eye-like feature as it draws moisture from deep in the Caribbean to bury the Northeast in snow.
Newark, New Jersey, has officially surpassed the 20-inch mark, recording a staggering 21.0 inches of snow as the storm's intense deformation band lingers over the region.
This massive total has effectively paralyzed the city, contributing to the broader state of emergency and the ongoing suspension of transit services across northern New Jersey.
The historic blizzard battering the Northeast has officially pushed power outages past the half-million mark.
Data from PowerOutage.com indicates that over 500,000 customers are now without electricity as hurricane-force wind gusts and heavy, wet snow continue to dismantle the regional power grid. One customer represents a single address, so the number of Americans without power could be well over 1,000,000 at this time.
The situation remains critical in Massachusetts and New Jersey, which are currently bearing the brunt of the blackouts with combined totals exceeding 270,000 outages. In Delaware, nearly 40% of customers for some electric cooperatives have lost service, while significant disruptions are being reported from Maryland up through Connecticut.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Quogue, New York, has officially joined the ranks of the hardest-hit communities after recording a massive 23.5 inches of snow. This nearly two-foot total underscores the extreme power of the snow bands currently hammering the south shore of Long Island.
The snow totals in Freehold, New Jersey, have officially climbed to a staggering 24.2 inches.
This updated report marks the highest accumulations recorded across the entire Northeast during this historic bomb cyclone.
The town has seen relentless snow throughout the morning, driven by powerful deformation bands that have consistently dumped several inches of snow per hour on central New Jersey.
With over two feet of snow now on the ground, Freehold and the rest of Monmouth County are facing extreme conditions.
Local officials continue to enforce strict travel restrictions as crews struggle to keep up with the massive drifts and near-zero visibility caused by 45 mph wind gusts.
Residents are urged to remain hunkered down as the storm's peak intensity continues to hammer the region.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York City is currently in the grip of a historic winter event, with Central Park recording 15.1 inches of snow and totals still climbing.
This marks the city's most significant snowstorm since 17.4" fell in February 2021.
The storm, which intensified into a powerful nor'easter, has triggered the city's first Blizzard Warning in nine years.
With snow rates hitting 2 to 3 inches per hour, the impact on the five boroughs has been immediate and severe.
A mandatory citywide travel ban remains in effect to keep non-essential vehicles off the streets, allowing more than 2,300 plows to work through near-whiteout conditions.
Wind gusts have reached as high as 60 mph at JFK International Airport, contributing to widespread visibility issues and making any movement outside life-threatening.
While the heaviest bands are expected to move out by Monday afternoon, officials warn that a "brutal cleanup" lies ahead. Residents are urged to stay indoors and off the roads until the travel ban is lifted. Property owners should also be prepared for their own work; city rules require sidewalks to be cleared within four hours if the snow stops during daylight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports that 13 regional airports across the Northeast have effectively closed as the historic bomb cyclone delivers blinding snow and hurricane-force winds.
These closures come as many facilities become physically unable to keep runways clear against snow rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour and gusts exceeding 70 mph.
While major hubs like JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark are seeing near-total flight cancellations, the shuttering of smaller regional airports underscores the storm's total paralysis of the coastal corridor.
In addition to the frozen runways, the FAA has noted that extreme turbulence and near-zero visibility have made safe takeoffs and landings impossible throughout the morning.
The ongoing nor'easter has transitioned from a standard winter storm into a "textbook" meteorological marvel, undergoing a process known as incredible bombogenesis.
Over the last 24 hours, the storm’s central pressure plummeted by nearly 40 mb, reaching a staggering 972 mb. This rapid intensification has caused the storm to take on hurricane-like characteristics, most notably the development of a defined eye at its center.
This level of intensification is rarely seen outside of scientific literature and represents the sheer power of the bomb cyclone currently paralyzing the Northeast.
As the storm churns off the coast, the formation of the eye serves as a visual testament to the extreme wind speeds and record-low pressure that are fueling the blizzard conditions and widespread power outages across the region.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The MTA is urging New Yorkers to avoid unnecessary travel as the blizzard forces major service cuts across the subway and commuter rail networks. While the city remains under a travel ban for vehicles, the transit system is seeing significant disruptions as crews battle the heavy snow.
- Subway suspensions: The C, Sr, and Staten Island Railway are currently suspended.
- Severe delays: Several major lines, including the 4, 5, B, M, J, L, N, and W, are experiencing severe delays.
With snow falling at prolific rates, transit officials are reminding riders to check the mta.info service status page or the MYmta app before heading out, as conditions are changing rapidly block-by-block.
The usually bustling streets of the Upper East Side have turned into a silent ghost town as the citywide travel ban keeps all non-essential vehicles off the roads through noon today.
With visibility near zero and Central Park recording more than 15 inches of snow so far, the neighborhood’s residential avenues are now dominated by massive drifts and the quiet hum of the occasional plow.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley are currently getting slammed by the storm's "deformation band"—a classic feature of powerful nor'easters that is dumping exceptionally heavy snow.
This distinct band, clearly visible on radar, is responsible for the intense snow rates and localized whiteout conditions currently occurring across the region.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Power outages are surging to critical levels, with 484,201 total U.S. customers now in the dark as the massive blizzard 'bombs' the Northeast.
FOX Weather has seen a significant jump in just the last few hours, as hurricane-force wind gusts—including a peak of 74 mph in Stony Brook, New York—continue to snap utility lines across the region.
According to the latest data from PowerOutage.com, Massachusetts and New Jersey remain the hardest-hit states, with 146,000 and 122,000 outages respectively, while Delaware and Maryland are also seeing major disruptions with tens of thousands of homes without electricity.
Restoration efforts are expected to be slow and dangerous; utility crews cannot safely deploy bucket trucks until these high winds subside, meaning many residents should prepare for a multi-day wait for the lights to come back on.
Major reporting sites from New York City and Long Island are now reporting nearly two feet of snow as snow rates 2-3 inches per hour hammer the region.
Newark, New Jersey, has officially recorded 18.3 inches of snow as the historic bomb cyclone delivers one of the most significant winter weather events the city has seen in years.
The FOX Forecast Center says the city is experiencing snow rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour right now.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Central Park has officially recorded 15.1 inches of snow as the historic nor'easter continues to bury Manhattan. This significant total marks one of the city's most substantial snow events in years, contributing to the treacherous conditions that have triggered a citywide travel ban through noon.
As the sun rises over the East Coast, satellite imagery is providing a breathtaking and sobering look at the true scale of the nor’easter currently paralyzing the region. The "eye" of this massive bomb cyclone is clearly visible churning off the coast, with its spiral bands of heavy snow and hurricane-force winds stretching from the Mid-Atlantic all the way into Maine.
The satellite view captures the classic "comma" shape of a rapidly intensifying storm, a visual testament to the extreme pressure drop that has fueled this blizzard.
From space, the cloud tops are exceptionally high and cold, indicating the prolific moisture that has already dumped over 20 inches of snow in parts of New Jersey and Long Island. As the storm continues to track northeast, this perspective highlights the immense reach of the wind field that is currently leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without power.
Providence, Rhode Island, is experiencing staggering snow rates as the National Weather Service reports 13.9 inches fell in just a six-hour window this morning. This rapid accumulation has pushed the city's storm total to 16.3 inches so far, with additional heavy bands expected to continue through midday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The historic Blizzard of 2026 is reaching its peak intensity off the coast of New England, with hurricane-force wind gusts and extreme snow rates paralyzing much of Massachusetts.
The FOX Forecast Center has confirmed that hurricane-force gusts are occurring and are likely to continue into the afternoon as the storm's central pressure drops even further.
The town of Freehold, New Jersey, has officially shattered the 20-inch mark, recording a massive 22.2 inches of snow as of Monday morning.
This updated total places Freehold among the highest recorded accumulations in the region, surpassing many early projections and highlighting the sheer power of the stationary snow bands that have hammered central New Jersey.
As the bomb cyclone continues to churn offshore, residents in Monmouth County are facing extreme whiteout conditions and massive drifts, making any attempt at travel life-threatening.
With Blizzard Warnings still in effect, officials are urging everyone to stay hunkered down as crews struggle to keep pace with these historic snow rates.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The bomb cyclone has officially delivered hurricane-force wind gusts to Long Island, with Stony Brook, New York, recording a top gust of 74 mph this morning. This major reading places Stony Brook among the hardest-hit areas in the region as the storm continues to intensify offshore.
More than 400,000 customers are now without power across the Northeast.
Data from PowerOutage.com indicates that as the storm's core moves through the region, the combination of near-hurricane-force wind gusts and heavy, wet snow is overwhelming the grid.
Restoring power will likely be a slow, multi-day process. Utility officials in Connecticut have warned that full restoration could take anywhere from four to six days. High winds are currently preventing crews from using bucket trucks for safety reasons, meaning repairs in many areas cannot begin in earnest until the storm subsides on Tuesday.
The town of Islip, New York, has officially recorded a massive 20.0 inches of snow as the historic bomb cyclone continues its relentless assault on the region.
This milestone represents one of the highest totals reported on Long Island so far, as intense bands of snow have been dumping accumulation at rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour throughout the morning.
The 20-inch report in Islip aligns with broader forecasts that predicted up to two feet of snow for the area. Residents across Suffolk County are facing extreme whiteout conditions and life-threatening travel, with all non-essential driving currently prohibited under a local travel ban.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An EarthCam view of Times Square this morning reveals a rare sight: one of the world's busiest intersections is virtually a ghost town. Under the mandatory citywide travel ban, the neon-lit streets are completely empty of cars and tourists, leaving only a dedicated team of emergency snow shovelers visible as they work tirelessly to clear the mounting accumulation.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The bomb cyclone slamming the East Coast has officially knocked out power to nearly 300,000 customers across the Northeast.
Data from PowerOutage.us indicates that as of 6:00 a.m. ET, the bulk of these outages are concentrated in New Jersey and Delaware, where a combination of heavy snow load and fierce winds is snapping tree limbs and utility lines.
- New Jersey: Remains the epicenter of the crisis with over 115,000 customers in the dark. In Ocean County alone, more than 13% of the population has lost power as 70 mph gusts lash the coast.
- Delaware: Outages have climbed to nearly 72,000, with the Delaware Electric Coop reporting that almost 42% of its customer base is currently without electricity.
- Massachusetts: Outages are skyrocketing as the blizzard blasts the state. More than 60,000 customers are now in the dark.
All NJ Transit services remain under a full systemwide suspension this morning as the historic bomb cyclone continues to batter the state with extreme snow and high winds. This total shutdown includes all bus, rail, light rail, and Access Link operations.
While some service began tapering off early Sunday evening, the final rail trips concluded by 9:00 p.m. to ensure the safety of both passengers and employees during the peak of the storm.
NJ Transit officials and the Emergency Operations Center are currently monitoring weather conditions and assessing the storm's impact on tracks, overhead wires, and roads.
- Ongoing assessment: Officials will continue to evaluate the system throughout the morning to determine when it is safe to begin a gradual resumption of service.
- Snow-fighting operations: Even while service is suspended, you may see empty trains or light rail vehicles moving; these are being operated specifically to keep tracks and overhead wires clear of heavy snow and ice buildup.
- Travel advice: Governor Sherrill has urged residents to stay off the roads, which must remain clear for local and state snow removal crews to work efficiently.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lewes, Delaware, has reported a significant 18.0 inches of snow as the historic blizzard continues to lash the coast with near-whiteout conditions. This total reaches the high end of local forecasts, with heavy snow bands still expected to drop additional accumulation through the morning hours.
Freehold, New Jersey, has just reported a massive 19.0 inches of snow as the heart of the bomb cyclone delivers some of its highest totals yet.
This major measurement highlights the extreme accumulation occurring across central New Jersey, where intense snow bands have been stationary for several hours.
If you thought it couldn't get more intense, the storm is proving us wrong. Forecasters are seeing widespread snow rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour that are expected to hammer Long Island and Southern New England through at least 10:00 a.m. ET.
While the snow was previously hitting in scattered bands, the storm is now consolidating into one massive primary band that stretches from Long Island all the way to Eastern Massachusetts.
This is the absolute peak of the event—driven by an impressive surge of moisture (what meteorologists call the warm conveyor) colliding with the freezing core of the storm.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York City remains at a standstill this morning as a mandatory citywide travel ban continues to hold all non-essential vehicles off the streets.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's emergency order, which began at 9:00 p.m. Sunday, is designed to keep roads clear for emergency responders and the city's massive fleet of 2,300 snowplows as they battle the most significant blizzard to hit the five boroughs since 2017.
- Duration: The ban is strictly in effect until 12:00 p.m. today.
- Scope: All city streets, highways, bridges, and tunnels are closed to non-emergency vehicular traffic.
- Who can drive: Only essential workers (medical personnel, first responders, utility crews) and those traveling for a documented emergency are permitted on the roads.
- Penalties: Vehicles found on the roads in violation of the ban are subject to fines and immediate towing to ensure they do not block plowing operations.
- Public Transit: While the travel ban applies to cars, scooters, and e-bikes, most subway lines continue to operate—though many have switched from express to local service.
The bomb cyclone currently offshore is unleashing ferocious winds across the Northeast, with several coastal communities reporting gusts reaching or exceeding 70 mph. These powerful gales are the primary driver behind the widespread whiteout conditions and surging power outages currently paralyzing the region.
Data from the FOX Forecast Center highlights the extreme intensity of the wind field as the storm's pressure continues to bottom out:
- Bellefonte, DE: Leading the region with a staggering 72 mph gust—just shy of the official hurricane-strength threshold (>74 mph).
- Keyport, NJ: Recording a peak gust of 67 mph.
- Barnegat Inlet, NJ: Seeing consistent lashing with gusts up to 66 mph.
- Stony Brook, NY: Clocking in at 63 mph as the storm core moves past Long Island.
- Atlantic City, NJ: Recording 60 mph gusts alongside heavy coastal flooding and snow.
These winds are expected to remain intense for several more hours, making travel dangerous and posing a severe threat to standing trees and power lines. Residents are urged to stay away from windows and remain indoors until winds subside later today.
As the nor'easter hammers New York City with snow rates reaching up to 2 to 3 inches per hour, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has moved into a full-force, around-the-clock operation. To keep up with the rapidly accumulating snow, the city has deployed more than 2,600 sanitation workers on successive 12-hour shifts.
The scale of the deployment is historic, matching the intensity of the first Blizzard Warning issued for the city in nine years:
- Plows and spreading: Over 2,300 plows are currently active across the five boroughs, accompanied by a fleet of 700 salt spreaders.
- New technology: For this storm, DSNY is utilizing expanded geocoded tracking to more efficiently clear critical pedestrian infrastructure, including bus stops, crosswalks, and fire hydrants.
- Real-time tracking: Residents can monitor the progress of these crews block-by-block through the city's PlowNYC portal.
- Emergency support: The city has also activated over 1,000 emergency snow shovelers—a significantly earlier and larger deployment than in previous storms—to assist in clearing key public areas.
While the city’s travel ban remains in effect until noon today to allow "New York's Strongest" to work safely, officials are reminding property owners of their responsibilities. Once the snow stops, a path of at least 4 feet must be cleared on all sidewalks to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. Additionally, due to the all-hands-on-deck snow response, trash and recycling collection will be delayed by at least one day.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A powerful mesoscale snow band is currently locked in over Jersey City, Hoboken, and Newark, delivering some of the most intense snow rates seen yet during this bomb cyclone. While much of the region is seeing steady snow, this specific band is producing localized rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, causing visibility to drop to near zero across Hudson and Essex counties.
The impact of this relentless hammering is already reflected in the numbers, with Newark reporting a staggering 11.1 inches as of 5:00 a.m.. Residents just west of the Hudson River should prepare for conditions to remain life-threatening through the morning, as these stationary bands can easily bury neighborhoods under an additional half-foot of snow in just a few hours.
As the blizzard buries the Northeast in what could be record-breaking totals, many residents are reaching for their yardsticks.
However, getting an accurate reading in a high-wind event like this can be tricky due to significant drifting.
To ensure your reports are useful for meteorologists, follow these official measurement steps:
- Choose the right spot: Select an open, level area clear of obstructions and drifts. Ideally, place a "snowboard" or a flat, white surface down before the snow begins.
- Measure from the ground up: Use a ruler or yardstick to measure the depth from the board (or ground) base to the top of the newly fallen snow.
- Clear the board periodically: For long-duration events like this one, clear your measurement board every 6 hours. This prevents the weight of the snow from compacting the layers, which can lead to undercounting the total.
- Take an average: Don't rely on just one spot. Measure in several representative locations and calculate the average for the most accurate total.
- Avoid drifts: Stay away from areas where the 60-70 mph wind has piled snow up against fences or houses, as well as scoured areas where the ground is bare.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The early morning snow reports are in, and they confirm that the New York City metro area is rapidly approaching the one-foot mark.
Newark, NJ has already crossed that threshold with 11.1 inches on the ground, while Islip and JFK are following closely behind at 9.5 inches and 9.3 inches respectively.
Even Central Park (NYC) has officially recorded 7.8 inches, with totals expected to climb as the storm's core moves through.
Current radar analysis from the FOX Forecast Center shows 1 to 2-inch-per-hour snow rates are ongoing across the region.
These intense bands are creating a high risk for full blizzard conditions over the next few hours, particularly for coastal areas and the immediate NYC metro, as the "bomb cyclone" continues to intensify.
The historic "bomb cyclone" has officially triggered a national travel nightmare, with flight disruptions now surpassing the 18,000 mark through Tuesday.
According to the latest data from FlightAware, the storm has forced the cancellation of more than 10,000 flights, while an additional 8,000 have faced significant delays as the blizzard paralyzes the Northeast corridor.
The grounding is most severe at the primary entry points to the region, where airlines have preemptively cleared their schedules to avoid stranding aircraft in the path of the storm. Most of the flights at LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, and Boston have been canceled for today.
The historic blizzard is currently overwhelming the power grid, with regional outages officially surpassing the 250,000 mark as of Monday morning. The combination of 70 mph wind gusts and heavy, wet snow is snapping utility lines and downing trees across the I-95 corridor.
- New Jersey: Remains the hardest-hit state with over 100,000 customers in the dark. Ocean County is facing the most severe impact, with more than 11% of the county currently without power.
- Delaware: Outages have climbed to nearly 68,000, with the Delaware Electric Coop reporting nearly 40% of its customers affected.
- Virginia and Maryland: Both states are seeing roughly 25,000 outages each as the storm's core moves through the Mid-Atlantic.
- Connecticut: Governor Ned Lamont has warned that "several hundred thousand" residents could eventually lose power, with restorations potentially taking four to six days due to the severity of the damage.
Because travel is currently dangerous and travel bans are in place across parts of the region, repair crews are facing significant delays in reaching downed lines until the wind and snow subside later today.
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