An extreme snowstorm characterized by bomb cyclogenesis has affected over 40 million residents on the US East Coast. A state of emergency has been declared in New York and neighboring states, banning vehicular traffic and closing educational institutions. The scale of snowfall, reaching up to 70 centimeters in key areas, has led to a complete paralysis of air transport and significant disruptions to subway and commuter rail services.

State of Emergency in New York

The mayor and governor imposed a ban on vehicular traffic and mobilized the National Guard to assist in clearing the storm's effects.

Mass Flight Cancellations

Due to the bomb cyclone, over 5000 flights were grounded, cutting off the East Coast from the rest of the country and the world.

Paralysis of Education and Institutions

Public schools, universities, and the UN headquarters were closed, and millions of workers switched to remote work mode.

A powerful low-pressure system developing over the Atlantic Ocean struck densely populated areas from Maryland to Maine, bringing conditions described as a blizzard. In New York, the mayor declared a state of emergency, resulting in a ban on non-essential vehicle travel. This decision aimed to allow snowplows and technical services to clear major transportation arteries, which were covered by a thick layer of snow within just a few hours. Central Park recorded 38 centimeters of snowfall, while in some areas of New Jersey and on Long Island, snow cover reached from 61 to 70 centimeters. This phenomenon is considered one of the most severe storms of the last decade. The northeastern coast of the US is regularly hit by so-called nor'easters, powerful storms that form over water, drawing energy from the temperature difference between land and the Gulf Stream. The most tragic Great Blizzard of 1888 brought over a meter of snow to the New York metropolitan area and caused hundreds of deaths, which later forced the construction of the first underground subway system in the US. The transportation sector felt the impact of the weather breakdown most acutely. Over five thousand flights were canceled, and key airports such as JFK and LaGuardia were de facto taken out of commercial use. Although the New York subway did not formally suspend all operations, passengers faced extreme delays and the shutdown of some lines, including above-ground sections in outer boroughs. Furthermore, in-person school classes were suspended, and the UN headquarters remained closed to staff and diplomats. The situation forced residents into self-isolation, which in official city communications was compared to restrictions known from the pandemic period, urging people to stay home due to real threats to health and life. 40 mln — people affected by extreme weather Meteorologists warn that low temperatures will persist for the coming days, which could lead to road icing and hamper snow removal efforts. Technical services are working around the clock, but restoring full infrastructure capacity will likely last until the end of the week. Climate experts point out that while such storms are a winter norm in this region, their increasing intensity may be linked to the warming of ocean waters, which provide weather systems with more water vapor and thermal energy. Approximate Snow Cover in Regions: New York (Central Park): 38, New Jersey (north): 61, Boston: 45, Philadelphia: 25 Timeline of the Snow Paralysis: February 22, 21:00 — State of Emergency Declared; February 23, 06:00 — Start of Transport Paralysis; February 23, 12:00 — Peak of the Storm; February 23, 20:00 — Continuation of Bans