Alert for snow storm in New York and across New England: areas and highways affected | February 28
Parts of the Northeast are experiencing significant snowfall for the first time this winter, with officials advising motorists to exercise caution.
The Northeast of the United States is experiencing the first bout of snow storms recorded this winter, with officials warning of dangerous road conditions and potential power outages for residents.
On Tuesday morning close to 50 million people in the region were subject to winter weather alerts and a powerful snow system is present in New England, bringing up to 8 inches of snow, the National Weather Service reports.
New York City recorded the most significant snow event this winter with nearly 2 inches recorded in Central Park on Tuesday morning, with a state-wide forecast of between 1 and 4 inches. Up to 6 inches of snow could fall in Boston in the coming days.
But the state with the most snow expected is Rhode Island, where up to 10 inches could fall on the worst-affected areas. Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee has warned that commuters may face disruption for much of this week and all schools in Providence were closed on Tuesday.
For the most up-to-date information on road closures and affected highways in New York, the state’s 511NY alerts map is the place to go.
What does the snow mean for commuters in New England?
Officials in New England are working around the clock to keep roads open and safe in the midst of a heavy spell of snowfall in the region. As of Tuesday lunchtime snow has not forced the closure of any major highways in New England, but highway administrator Jonathan Gulliver warned motorists to be cautious.
“If you go further west you’re going to see some more slippery conditions especially on some of the local roadways and connecting roads,” Gulliver said.
“As the night goes on and the temperature drops, there is going to be some chances for some of those areas to refreeze,” he added. “We’re going to be keeping staff on overnight tonight, smaller numbers, to make sure we have enough salt down to treat those areas and make sure that it’s going to be good for tomorrow morning’s commute.”
Heavy snow is expected to continue through Tuesday afternoon and into the evening in parts of the Northeast, including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
More than 500 commercial flights in the United States had been cancelled by midday on Tuesday, with another 1,400 facing delays. The winter storms have also sparked power outages that have caused additional issues for travellers, briefly affecting signals on Boston-area highways.
Current forecasts suggest that winter storms will remain a factor in the Northeast through Friday morning.