NYC, New Jersey and Philadelphia declare state of emergencies and cancel thousands of flights as winter storm Orlena starts dumping up to TWO FEET of snow after leaving trail of destruction across the country
- More than 100million people across the Midwest and Northeast face snowy conditions through Tuesday
- New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia have declared states of emergency ahead of Winter Storm Orlena, which is forecast to dump up to two feet of snow in the Big Apple
- New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport has canceled 75 percent of flights for Monday and La Guardia has canceled about 81 percent of flights for Monday
- Weather warnings are in place across the country with wind gusts as strong as 45 mph forecast in New York
- By late Sunday up to eight inches of snow was reported in some areas of Chicago
- Forecasters also expect heavy snow in Boston, Philadelphia and D.C. as the storm worsens into a nor’easter
- The worst of the weather for the northeast is expected Monday; the storm is forecast to end Tuesday
- AccuWeather Chief Broadcast Meteorologist Bernie Rayno has already called the cold blast ‘monumental’
Winter Storm Orlena is barreling towards the East Coast after blanketing the Midwest in white, and is set to drop up to two feet of snow in the Big Apple, prompting New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia to declare states of emergency.
More than 100million people from the Midwest to the Northeast have received winter weather warnings in the powerful nor’easter.
By Sunday evening the powerful storm dumped about eight inches of snow in parts of Chicago and three to five inches in central Ohio. As a result of the storm hundreds of car crashes have been reported and thousands of flights have been canceled in New York City.
The storm has now reached the East Coast where it will bring heavy snow, strong winds and freezing temperatures across New England, including Boston and Philadelphia.
By Sunday night Washington DC, Baltimore and New York City already had snowfall and locals in Connecticut and New York were seen lining up at stores and clearing out shelves, stocking up on food, water, snow plows and shovels.
On Sunday night New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a state of emergency where all residents are urged to stay home with all non-essential travel restricted beginning at 6am Monday.
Orlena is predicted to drop between 18 to 24 inches of snow in New York City from Monday into Tuesday, coupled with wind gusts up to 45 to 55mph.
Winter Storm Orlena is barreling towards the East Coast after blanketing the Midwest in snow, set to drop up to two feet of snow in the Big Apple, prompting the New York City and New Jersey to declare states of emergency. A view of pedestrians building a snowman on Sunday in Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday
More than 100million people from the Midwest to the Northeast have received winter weather warnings in the powerful nor’easter. By Sunday evening the powerful storm dumped about eight inches of snow in parts of Chicago and three to five inches in central Ohio. A view of a woman in Chicago shoveling out her car on Sunday above
Winter wonderland: A view of people strolling the snowy National Mall in Washington DC on Sunday above. The nation’s capital is expected to get six to 10 inches of snow in the first major snow storm of the year
President Joe Biden appeared to enjoy the winter weather as he walked through the White House surrounded by the snow
On Sunday night New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a state of emergency where all residents are urged to stay home with all non-essential travel restricted beginning at 6am Monday. In the city Orlena is predicted to drop between 18 to 24 inches of snow in New York City from Monday into Tuesday, coupled with wind gusts up to 45 to 55mph. A view of snowfall in Times Square in New York City late Sunday above
The heaviest snowfall forecast for mid morning Monday in New York City. At its peak, snow could fall as fast as one to three inches an hour. A view of people enjoying the snowfall in Times Square Sunday night above
A couple share a kiss as snow falls around them during Winter Storm Orlena in Times Square New York City on Sunday
Locals flocked to their local stores to stock up on water and food ahead of the storm. A view of Costco shoppers in Norwalk, Connecticut above
Sold out! Shoppers in Norwalk, Connecticut buy out all the snow blowers for the impending storm on Sunday
In Henrico County, Virginia a Henrico County fire truck overturned on slick roads on while on a call on Sunday
All four firefighters inside were able to exit safely and were taken to hospitals for minor injuries as officials warned locals to stay off the roads
The storm will bring heavy snow, strong winds and freezing temperatures across New England, including Boston and Philadelphia. A view of residents walking along the snowy road in Rock Creek Park in Washington DC on Sunday
Playtime! Locals bundled up in coats, gloves and hats to enjoy a day in the snow sledding and tubing down hills near Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday
Snowball fight! A view of locals participating in a snowball fight near the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall as Washington, D.C. on Sunday
The heaviest snowfall forecast for mid morning Monday in New York City. At its peak, snow could fall as fast as one to three inches an hour.
The heaviest snowfall is likely to be recorded in northeastern Pennsylvania and northwestern new Jersey, according to Bob Oravec, a lead forcaster with the National Weather Service based in Baltimore.
In Pennsylvania forecasters predict 11 to 15 inches of snow in some areas and winds of up to 35 miles per hour.
‘New Yorkers should stay home, keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles and let our plows work to keep us safe. Make no mistake: this storm will bring heavy snowfall and it will make travel dangerous in every neighborhood in our city,’ de Blasio said in a statement.
The severe weather will put a halt on the city’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout, with all Monday appointments for the shots being postponed.
‘It will be rescheduled quickly. We don’t want people out trying to get a vaccination and end up being in harm’s way during this weather,’ De Blasio said on NY1.
The city’s schools will also have classes moved online and airports have moved to cancel flights.
New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport has canceled 75 percent of flights for Monday and La Guardia has canceled about 81 percent of flights on Monday. At least 128 flights were canceled at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Sunday, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also declared a state of emergency on Sunday as the nor’easter rolls in and threatens to trigger moderate coastal flooding.
New Jersey’s state of emergency went into effect at 7pm Sunday and NJ Transit busses, rail, and Access Link service will be temporarily suspended Monday.
‘Heavy snow, coastal flooding, and high winds are expected in many parts of the state. The safety of residents and workers is our utmost priority. Please follow all weather-related guidance and stay off roads in order to allow access for emergency personnel,’ Murphy said in a statement.
In the storm hundreds of vehicle crashes were reported. Maryland State police responded to more than 70 crashes and to 37 disabled or unattended vehicles. Virginia State Police responded to more than 270 vehicle crashes and 240 stuck cars between midnight and 2pm Sunday.
Monday will be the peak of the storm in the Northeast, according to Weather.com, with snow, that could change into rain or sleet, in southern new England to the New York City metro area and in parts of the Ohio Valley and the Appalachians.
This map shows snowfall reports as of Sunday at 9pm showing how Orlena has already impacted Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia
Residents in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, dig their cars out Sunday above
National Guard troops provide security in the aftermath of rioting as Winter Storm Orlena leaves snow on the US Capitol grounds
) A lone visitor walks the snowy grounds of the Washington Monument, braving Winter Storm Orlena, on Sunday
Residents shovel out their vehicle from the snow in the Pilsen neighborhood after an overnight snowfall that dropped up to eight inches of snow in Chicago on Sunday
Stocking up! A long line of shoppers outside a Whole Foods store in Manhattan above hours before Winter Storm Orlena hit Sunday
A view of a man cleaning snow off of his car during Winter Storm Orlena in Wheeling, Illinois on Sunday
By Monday night heavier snow will head further north into upstate and central New York. All throughout, strong winds will wallop the coast Monday into evening.
By Tuesday there will be lighter snow lingering in far west and central New York.
Orlena started in California last week here it brought more than six feet of snow and heavy rain to the region, made it to the Midwest by the weekend.
Monday is expected to see the worst of the weather for the Northeast, with the storm forecast to end Tuesday night, right in time for Groundhog Day.
AccuWeather Chief Broadcast Meteorologist Bernie Rayno has already called the cold blast ‘monumental’.
It’s coming down! A view of New York City sanitation trucks with snow plows heading out to wait for the snow in Brooklyn, New York on Sunday night
A dusting of snow pictured outside the famous Nathan’s hot dogs shop in Coney Island, Brooklyn on Sunday night
A soccer player pictured enjoying the snow Sunday night in Brooklyn, New York
What nor’easter? Soccer players pictured playing in the fresh snow in Graves End, Brooklyn, New York City Sunday night
A man shovels snow on the street in New York City above sunday night. The snow begins to accumulate as the first nor’easter of 2021 is projected to dump over two feet of snow on the city by mid-day tomorrow and taper off by Tuesday
A view of snow plows in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday night as snow started to accumulate
Mechanicsville, Va: Trucks clear snow from Mechanicsville Turnpike on Sunday morning
Mechanicsville, Va: David Rigby shovels his driveway during a snowstorm Sunday
Washington DC: Washington is expecting 3 to 5 inches of snow during the first major snow storm of the year
More than 100million people across the Midwest and Northeast face snowy conditions through Tuesday
Weather warnings are in place across the New York, with gusts as high as 45 mph forecast and up to two feet of snow
Winter storm watches and weather advisories were in effect across 20 states as of Saturday, ranging from parts of the Northern Plains and southern Great Lakes to the southern Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic states and New England, according to the National Weather Prediction Center.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday directed state agencies to prepare ‘all emergency response assets’.
In Wisconsin, snow depths in some counties near Lake Michigan had reached more than 15 inches, and the snow was still falling.
‘That’s more snow than we’ve seen in a decade,’ Chris Stumpf, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sullivan, Wisconsin, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Three to 5 inches of snow arrived in central Ohio by early Sunday, making for some slippery roads. Washington, D.C., and parts of Virginia had also received some snow, with up to 3 inches in some areas. By the afternoon, the snow was expected to reach Pennsylvania.
Washington DC: A woman carries an umbrella as she walks in the snow on the National Mall during a snow storm
Evanston, Illinois: For those who are getting ready to shovel, the snow in Illinois was forecast to be the heavy and wet snow that is often called ‘heart attack snow’ because of how physically taxing it can be to shovel it
Washington DC: Traffic moves across the Memorial Bridge with the Lincoln Memorial in the background as snow covers the ground
Washington DC: People walk by the Washington Monument on the National Mall on Sunday
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