Travel impacted, power outages spike as nor’easter continues assault on Northeast, New England
In the Poconos of northeastern Pennsylvania, Mount Pocono has picked up 12.5 inches of snow. Farther to the northeast, Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, has picked up nearly a foot of snow.
A quick-hitting but powerful nor’easter is making its presence known across the Northeast and New England as the winter storm continues to pound the region with heavy, wet snow that is severely impacting travel along major highways, including Interstate 95, and at some of the nation’s busiest airports while power outages start to climb.
Earlier Tuesday morning, forecasters had warned that snowfall rates in New York City could approach 1-2 inches per hour through the Tuesday morning commute. That heavier area of snowfall has started to exit the region and is now shifting those high snowfall rates into eastern Long Island and southeastern New England through about midday.
NOR'EASTER SNOWFALL MAPS: HOW MUCH SNOW IS EXPECTED IN MAJOR NORTHEAST CITIES, INCLUDING NEW YORK, BOSTON
Highway closed, power outages jump in Pennsylvania
Heavy snow leading to power outasges, travel trouble in the Northeast
Highways have been closed in Pennsylvania, power outage numbers are climbing and delays and cancellations at airports are on the rise as a powerful nor'easter blasts millions of people in the Northeast and southern New England with heavy snow.
The winter weather first impacted Pennsylvania on Tuesday, which led to numerous reports of crashes and prompted the closure of Interstate 83 northbound in York County, Pennsylvania.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, the highway needed to be closed in Fairview Township due to multiple vehicles that became stuck on the highway because of the snow.
So many vehicles became stuck that snowplows could not get onto the roads to clear the ice and snow.
Power outages, too, are becoming a concern in Pennsylvania as outages begin to skyrocket due to the weight of heavy, wet snow bringing down power lines.
As of late Tuesday morning, more than 140,000 outages had been reported in Pennsylvania. Power outages are also starting to rise in New Jersey. As of late Tuesday morning, about 12,000 outages had been reported.
Nor’easter impacting air travel in the Northeast, New England
(FOX Weather)
It’s not only the roads that are being impacted by the nor’easter in the Northeast and New England.
More than 2,000 flights have been canceled as a result of the winter weather, with a majority of those being reported at New York’s LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWK) in New Jersey and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
WHAT MAKES A STORM A NOR’EASTER?
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) said it had more than 2,100 pieces of equipment out on the highways and roads working to clear snow and ice.
A speed restriction of 40 mph was also put into place on Interstate 90, both east and westbound, from mile marker 76.5 in Monson to mile marker 59 in Warren.
Nor'easter producing heavy snow in the Northeast, New England
(FOX Weather)
The nor’easter is part of the same system that impacted the Southeast on Monday, bringing severe weather to millions before it continued northeast, where it will continue to move off the East Coast and strengthen.
The FOX Forecast Center said precipitation from the nor’easter started as rain in many areas, but winter weather has taken over as colder air works its way into the winter storm.
(FOX Weather)
Many parts of eastern Pennsylvania picked up more than a foot of snow from the nor'easter on Tuesday. Shohola, Tobyhanna, Dingmans Ferry and Hazleton all picked up more than a foot.
Montague in New Jersey has also picked up more than a foot of snow.
New York City, Providence under Winter Storm Warning
(FOX Weather)
Winter weather alerts stretch from West Virginia to Massachusetts, with more than 32 million people under a Winter Storm Warning, including New York City and Providence in Rhode Island.
The Winter Storm Warnings are also in effect for cities such as Scranton and Allentown in Pennsylvania, Newark and Trenton in New Jersey and Bridgeport, New Haven and New London in Connecticut.
Heavy snow is seen covering vehicles and roads in Milford, Connecticut, during a noreaster on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
Winter Weather Advisories have also been issued across the region, including in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Hartford in Connecticut and Boston.
Boston had been under a Winter Storm Warning on Monday, but as computer forecast models continued to pull the forecast track of the nor’easter farther south, those were lowered to the Winter Weather Advisory.
How much snow will fall from the nor’easter
(FOX Weather)
This snowstorm will be a quick-hitter, with snow only expected to last about 12 hours in most places.
But the snow will be coming down fast and furious in many areas, such as New York City, which is expected to have snowfall rates of about 1-2 inches per hour through about 11 a.m.
With snowfall rates that high, travel could be treacherous on major roads and highways, including I-95 from the Philadelphia metro area to southern New England.
The New York City tri-state area can expect to see about 5-8 inches of snow, with Boston only expected to see 1-3 inches.
TRAVELING THIS WINTER? HERE'S WHAT TO KEEP IN YOUR CAR IN CASE YOU GET STUCK
To the south, higher snow totals are expected in Rhode Island and Connecticut, and an additional 3-5 inches could fall by the time the storm ends later on Tuesday.
Visibility will also be limited to under a half-mile in the heaviest snow bands.
DRIVING ON THE ICE AND DRIVING IN THE SNOW: WEATHER DRIVING TIPS FOR DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER
Coastal flooding and power outages are also a concern, as heavy, wet snow adds additional weight to trees and power lines. Winds will be whipping up to 60 mph along some areas of the East Coast, including Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
High Wind Warnings have been issued for coastal areas of Massachusetts, and coastal flood alerts have also been posted due to expected flooding during high tides along the New Jersey shore and portions of both the New York and New England coasts.
No comments: