Millions in New York City were stuck at home on Monday after a travel ban caused by “heart attack snow” and high winds.
As blizzard warnings stretched from Maryland to Maine, some areas of the northeast US have had over a foot of snow since Sunday, along with wind gusts of over 30 mph and low visibility.
Mobile phones across New York received emergency alerts, preventing non-emergency travel on all streets from midday due to “dangerous blizzard conditions.”
It is the first time in nine years that New York City has been under a blizzard warning.
New Yorkers stay at home, as blizzard conditions hit Credit: AP
The National Weather Service called travel conditions “nearly impossible”, as the historic storm triggered power-cuts as well as public travel cancellations and delays.
A state of emergency was also declared in Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, with officials in several states urging people to avoid venturing out.
More than 5,000 flights in and out of the United States were canceled for Monday, with New York City and Boston seeing the most cancellations and delays.
Subway station as snow falls in the Alphabet City neighborhood of New York Credit: Patrick Sison, AP
Both cities have shut public schools for Monday, with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani calling it the “first old-school snow day since 2019.”
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Weather service meteorologist Frank Pereira said the storm could become a bomb cyclone, which is when a storm drops at least 24 millibars in pressure in 24 hours.
“We expect things to dramatically change here” heading into the overnight, weather service meteorologist Frank Pereira said Sunday.
“The storm is continuing to develop, and as it does, as it continues to strengthen and move to the north, we’re expecting conditions to rapidly deteriorate.”
Pereira added that the storm could become a bomb cyclone, which is when a storm drops at least 24 millibars in pressure in 24 hours.
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Some have dubbed the snow “heart attack snow”, as experts remind people to shovel wet snow with caution.
New Yorkers shoveling snow in Times Square Credit: AP
Previous advice from Harvard Health Publishing states: “Picking up a shovel and moving hundreds of pounds of snow, particularly after doing nothing physical for several months, can put a big strain on the heart.”
They add: “Cold weather is another contributor because it can boost blood pressure, interrupt blood flow to part of the heart, and make blood more likely to form clots.”
The weather service said the snow was expected to taper off by Monday afternoon.
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