Record Snowfall in the USA: Transportation Paralysis and Hundreds of Thousands Without Power

The winter onslaught, described by meteorologists as a nor'easter, has led to unprecedented paralysis on the East Coast. The most severe situation is in Rhode Island, where Monday's snowfall broke previous daily records. In response to the extreme conditions, Massachusetts authorities imposed a complete ban on vehicle travel in the three most affected counties. In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani made the decision to temporarily close roads and bridges, although the situation on Tuesday morning allowed for the gradual restoration of traffic and the opening of schools in in-person mode. The region's power grid suffered severe damage under the weight of wet snow and due to gusty winds. Over 511,000 customers were deprived of electricity supplies, and repair crews are working in extremely difficult conditions to restore power. Snow blizzards effectively prevented road crews from working on Monday afternoon. The aviation sector recorded massive losses; shares of leading stock-market-listed carriers plummeted after the mass grounding of aircraft at key airports such as JFK and Logan International. The greatest blizzard in New York City's history in 2006 brought nearly 68 cm of snow to Central Park. The current catastrophe is being compared in scale to that event, testing new warning systems implemented after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. „The city is facing a significant challenge, but we are focusing on the safety of every New Yorker and ensuring service continuity.” — New York City Mayor From a logistical perspective, storm Hernando disrupted supply chains across the region. A state of emergency declared in many jurisdictions allowed for the mobilization of the National Guard to assist with snow removal and the evacuation of people trapped in snowdrifts. Although the storm's center is moving north towards Canada, meteorologists warn of a rapid temperature drop, which could lead to dangerous icing on already cleared routes.