A fierce winter storm has hit the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states of the United States. It has prompted emergency declarations, covered neighborhoods in several inches of snow and forced vaccination sites to close as authorities urge residents to prepare for more dangerous weather Tuesday.
Parts of northern New Jersey have seen more than 60 cm of snow, with the highest total on record in Mendham, NJ, receiving a staggering 30 inches, according to the National Metereological Service.
And more than 12 inches of snow have covered areas in Connecticut, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania.
New York City’s Central Park was covered in more than 15 inches of snow Monday night, putting the storm among the top 20 blizzards in the city’s recorded history.
“This winter storm is already producing large amounts of snow and creating dangerous travel conditions and is expected to continue through tomorrow,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Monday.
Another 5 to 10 cm of snow is possible in the Northeast on Tuesday, while the worst snowfall will be in Maine, where much of the state could see more than 12 inches of snow, and some areas could see as much as 60 cm.
But it’s not just heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions that officials are concerned about. There are coastal flood alerts, which include alerts, warnings and advisories, from Maine to the southern shores of Delaware, covering more than 22 million Americans.
The New York governor’s office warned Monday that neighborhoods along the coast could experience “multiple rounds of flooding, especially during high tides.”
Mild to moderate flooding was reported off the region’s coast early Tuesday, enough to flood basements, highways and cause minor structural damage, according to Citizen Free Press meteorologist Michael Guy. The water levels are currently between 60 cm and 1.2 meters above normal, Guy said.
“This type of flood is extremely dangerous and can be deadly,” added Guy.
Some vaccination points are closed on Tuesday
Meanwhile, vaccination points in New York were closed Monday due to the storm and at least five state vaccination points will be closed Tuesday, the governor said.
“For the safety of both workers and people scheduled to receive a vaccine, we will postpone appointments until tomorrow at various vaccination points that are being affected by this storm,” Cuomo said in a statement. “To be clear, no one misses the appointment, they will all be rescheduled when conditions are safer.”
In New Jersey, still in a state of emergency, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that state offices and the state’s six mega vaccine sites will be closed Tuesday as a result of weather conditions.
“Heavy snowfall, coastal flooding and high winds are expected to continue across the state from today until tomorrow,” Murphy said Monday. “I urge all of our residents to follow weather-related guidelines and stay off roads to allow access for essential workers and emergency personnel.”
Dangerous travel conditions throughout the region due to the winter storm
As the storm hit Connecticut on Monday, Stamford authorities announced that they rescued two people from a pickup truck that was hit by high winds, snow and a high tide that caused the vehicle to fill with water.
On Monday afternoon, firefighters found the vehicle partially submerged and floating 40 feet from shore, the Stamford Fire Department said in a news release. A woman was standing to the side of the vehicle yelling that a man was trapped inside, the department said.
Firefighters found the vehicle floating 12 meters from shore.
Firefighters swam to the vehicle and were able to lift the woman out with the help of an aerial ladder, while working to rescue the man, as the van “rapidly plunged completely into the water,” the department said in its press release. .
“A firefighter maintained a physical grip on the man’s arm and was able to pull him through the small window after the truck was completely under water,” the department said. “Once he was free, the firemen placed the man on the tower ladder and both occupants were taken to shore.”
The man was later transported to hospital, authorities said.
This is how this couple of pandas enjoy the snow 0:49In New Jersey, the state police reported by Monday night they had responded to more than 660 motor vehicle crashes and more than 1,000 driver aids in about a day.
“Motorist aids can be anything from flat tires, mechanical breakdowns, spins, and so on,” state police said. “We urge residents to stay off the roads.”