'Barely any cars in the road' - BBC reporter on the ground in Brooklyn, New Yorkpublished at 19:13 GMT
'Barely any cars in the road' - BBC's Pratiksha Ghildial in Brooklyn, New York
Summary
There are "near impossible" travel conditions in New York this morning, a state agency warns, as a major storm hits the US east coast
Parts of the country have seen over 22 inches (55.9cm) of snow fall, with over 15 inches in New York's Central Park, the National Weather Service says
Winter storm warnings stretch from North Carolina to northern Maine, with warnings also in place in parts of eastern Canada
More than 5,000 flights into and out of the US have been cancelled so far on Monday, and hundreds of thousands of people are without power
In New York City, the snow is shin-deep and trees have fallen across streets, Brandon Livesay reports
Time-lapse footage shows the Empire State Building engulfed by snow overnight by the storm
Up to 2ft (60cm) of snow is expected in some places - here's the latest weather forecast
It's the first time in nine years that New York City has been under a blizzard warning - but what is a blizzard?
Get in touch and send us your pictures
'Barely any cars in the road' - BBC reporter on the ground in Brooklyn, New Yorkpublished at 19:13 GMT
Media caption, In pictures: Travel disruptions in New York and Boston, and a snowman in DCpublished at 19:05 GMT
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A woman is pictured braving the snowy subway in Hamilton Heights, Manhattan, in the face of widespread travel disruptions
Image source, ReutersImage caption, The departures board at Logan International Airport in Boston is flooded in red
Image source, ReutersImage caption, Sunglasses are donned as impromptu snow goggles in Brooklyn, New York
Image source, ReutersImage caption, Baskets of fruit look more like piles of snowballs at this deserted fruit stand in New York City
Image source, ReutersImage caption, While the snow in Washington DC isn't as deep, there's still enough to build a snowman outside the Capitol
What we know so far as massive storm wallops US north-eastpublished at 19:00 GMT
Media caption, Watch: US reporters battle extreme conditions as a major storm hits the US east coast
Millions across the US north-east are under a state of emergency after a severe winter storm brought more than 22in (56cm) of snow in some places, along with high-speed winds. Parts of Canada's Atlantic Coast have also been affected.
New York's Central Park recorded 15in (38cm) of snow, according to the National Weather Center, and Providence, Rhode Island, received 33in (83cm) of snow, smashing the existing record for the single greatest snowstorm record, 28.6in (72.6cm) set in February 1978.
It is still snowing in some places, but the blizzard is expected to diminsh in the coming hours.
Here is where things stand at the moment:
- In New York, a travel ban that brought the city of over 8 million to a near standstill has been lifted. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that millions of students are taking a full snow-day off, meaning they did not have to attend online instruction or in-person school
- In neigbouring Connecticut and New Jersey, there are concerns that falling trees and branches could lead to dangerous road conditions and more power outages
- Massachusetts appears to have been hit the hardest with power outages. Nearly 287,000 households and businesses are without power, according to blackout tracker PowerOutage.us
- Thousands of flights in and out of the affected area have been cancelled
- In Rhode Island and Connecticut, state bans on non-essential travel are in place until further notice
- Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who activated the state's National Guard ahead of the storm, told residents to check on neighbours and the elderly and "stay off the roads"
More than 90% of flights cancelled from some airportspublished at 18:41 GMT
Image source, ReutersThe number of cancelled flights within, into or out of the US today now comes to 5,648, according to tracking site FlightAware.
The site shows that 98% of flights out of New York's LaGuardia airport have been cancelled, and 90% of flights from JFK. Both locations have seen around 38cm (15in) of snow.
Boston's Logan International Airport has cancelled 92% of outgoing flights, while New Jersey's Newark Liberty Airport has cancelled 92%, and Philadelphia International Airport has cut 81%.
Photographs taken earlier today showed empty check-in desks and a deserted airport parking lot at LaGuardia.
Image source, ReutersThousands of travellers left in limbopublished at 18:36 GMT
Grace Eliza Goodwin
US reporterThe snowstorm is causing major disruptions to air travel across the East Coast.
That means thousands of travellers have been forced to rebook their flights or cancel their plans altogether - including me.
I had booked a flight from New York to Minnesota on Monday morning to visit my sick grandmother and to attend my best friend's baby shower. But on Saturday - two days before my scheduled flight - Delta Airlines notified me that it was already cancelled.
I scrambled to rebook a flight - for free, luckily - as fast as I could before the alternate flights all booked up. I secured a spot on a flight on Monday night, but it, too, was cancelled on Sunday morning. After three rebooked flights were cancelled, as of now, I'm rebooked on a Tuesday night flight - pending further cancellations or delays.
A few days before my planned trip, my father told me I needed to prepare to say goodbye to my grandmother for the last time. I expect that, as a hardcore Minnesotan who's been through 82 brutal midwestern winters, she'll laugh at her California-raised granddaughter's winter panic.
She may even quote a classic line in my family: "Life's hard when it's good - let alone when it's bad."
This storm's impacts could end up being as severe as 2021 nor'easter that cost $100mpublished at 18:22 GMT
Chris Fawkes
BBC Weather presenter
Image source, Portland Press Herald via Getty ImagesImage caption, A February 2021 nor'easter saw heavy snowfall and flooding across the east coast, including in Maine (pictured)
No two blizzards are the same in terms of snowfall amounts, areas hit, population affected and sensitivity of infrastructure, so putting blizzards into a historical context can be tricky.
That said, the impacts from this storm may end up being comparable to the "Groundhog Day Nor'easter" of 2021.
That storm caused the cancellation of most flights into the New York area, led to hundreds of road traffic collisions and is estimated to have caused $100m (approximately £74m using 2021 conversion rates) in damage in the north east.
New York park closed because of heavy snow in treespublished at 18:01 GMT
Oliver O'Connell
Reporting from New York
Image source, Oliver O'Connell / BBCIt was eerily quiet along Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District this morning, with the snow still falling heavily.
Small groups of New Yorkers and some tourists were shuffling through the snow to Madison Square Park, while building staff cleared paths on the sidewalks.
The park itself is closed as the trees are weighed down with snow.
Sanitation trucks and other heavy machinery are clearing the roads, and buses are making their way down the avenue.
The city's travel ban has now been lifted, so some private vehicles are also appearing on the streets.
Image source, Oliver O'Connell / BBCImage caption, Snow covered statue of William Seward, former New York governor
Governors warn of falling trees and power outagespublished at 17:52 GMT
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A downed tree branch in Hoboken, New Jersey
A state of emergency remains in place across many states, including New Jersey and Connecticut.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who is about a month into the job, says she is especially worried about falling trees.
"That presents a very dangerous situation on our roads and to our utilities," she tells CNN.
In Connecticut, a travel ban on commercial vehicles remains in place until further notice, Governor Ned Lamont says in an online post.
"We [have] probably got about 20,000 folks without power right now," he tells CNN, adding that he expected that figure to increase.
"That’s going to pick up as the winds continue to pick up. So that’s what I really worry about. And that’s going to take a little longer to fix."
New Jersey city extends travel banpublished at 17:42 GMT
Authorities in Hoboken, New Jersey, have extended the city's travel ban until 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT).
That's after more than 14 inches (35.5 cm) of snow was reported in the region and still continues to fall.
"Violators are subject to summonses," the city says.
That's as Rhode Island governor Dan McKee says the state's travel ban and state of emergency will remain in place, adding that utility crews will work to restore power as "extreme wind" stops.
New Yorker can't remember a storm this bad since the 1960spublished at 17:32 GMT
Ann Butler
BBC News, New YorkI live in New York, but have been stranded in North Carolina while visiting family - my flight was moved about three times until I rebooked on another airline into New Jersey.
But I was born in New York and have family there right now. This is the most snow I remember since growing up there in the 1990s.
My mother, Kathleen Butler, who I checked on this morning (all safe, thankfully!) has lived in New York City since the 1960s and says she also does not remember the last time she saw this much snow.
She doesn't remember any New York City storm this bad, in fact.
"We may have, but I do not remember a winter like this where it was so cold all the time and we've had these mega snowstorms," she says.
"We may have had one or two, but not like this."
Image caption, A view down the usually busy 23rd street in Manhattan
Mayor Mamdani lifts NYC travel banpublished at 17:17 GMT
BreakingNew York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani has lifted a citywide travel ban on non-essential travel, which was imposed just before a blizzard battered the nation's most populous city.
The ban was lifted at 12:00 ET (17:00 GMT).
"Conditions on the roads remain icy," Mamdani says in an online post.
"If you choose to drive, please exercise caution, travel slowly, and be mindful of others on the road. We continue to advise New Yorkers to stay safe and stay indoors as much as possible."
Some UK flights to US to resume tomorrowpublished at 17:14 GMT
Image source, Getty ImagesEarlier today, we reported on flights from British and Irish airports cancelled due to the storm in the US.
All flights to Boston and New York from London Heathrow Airport were cancelled today, with some more already cancelled on Tuesday morning.
But all flights arriving at Heathrow from Boston and New York are still cancelled on Tuesday.
Flights to New York from Dublin, Manchester and Edinburgh were also cancelled this morning but are scheduled to resume tomorrow.
More than 5,000 flights are cancelled to and from US airports today, amongst other travel disruptions.
Heavy snow brings down tree in Brooklynpublished at 17:00 GMT
Brandon Livesay
Reporting from New York
Image source, Brandon Livesay / BBCThe blizzard and heavy snow has brought down a tree in Brooklyn, blocking a residential street and lying on top of parked cars.
I spoke to Jenny, who has lived on the street for about eight years. Jenny says she can't remember a snow storm like this.
"I have to check in with my neighbour, it's outside her house," Jenny says of the large tree.
Jenny only arrived back in New York last night after a trip to the UK.
"I just came back from Scotland, woke up, spent an hour shovelling the snow and now it's like piling up again, so round two."
"But it's gorgeous,"
You can read more about heavy snow, and why it brings down trees, in this post from earlier.
Image source, Brandon Livesay / BBCAt least 20 trees downed in blizzardpublished at 16:55 GMT
The New York branch of the National Weather Service say it is dealing with 20 incidents of trees falling, caused by the blizzard conditions.
That includes multiple road closures and utility disruptions.
Five reports say that damage has been caused by trees landing on buildings or cars.
'We're just hoping our flight on Wednesday still goes ahead'published at 16:46 GMT
James Kelly
UGC HubMiles is in New York City with his partner Jessica and a group of friends.
The couple, from Hull, have thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet the snow storm has afforded them in what is usually one of the world's busiest cities.
Getting home, on the other hand, is a concern. Miles says: "We're currently in New York until Wednesday.
"As tourists we’re seeing it as a bit of fun and we enjoyed Sunday immensely.
"The streets were quiet of traffic, allowing us to take many photos in places we wouldn’t normally be allowed to stand.
"Our trip up the Rockefeller and Empire State Building yesterday was cancelled due to the whiteout.
"But as we’re just doing the tourist thing, it’s not really been too bad. A bit of fun.
"We're just hoping our flight out to Chicago and on to Vegas on Wednesday still goes ahead."
Image source, Miles R
Watch: Take a walk down Brooklyn's snowy streetspublished at 16:34 GMT
Our reporter Brandon Livesay is in Brooklyn, New York City - watch as he takes a walk along snow-covered streets.
It's easy to get lost in icy Brooklynpublished at 16:23 GMT
Brandon Livesay
Reporting from New York
Image source, Brandon Livesay / BBCThe visibility outside is about two blocks, maybe around 150m.
The powerful wind gusts mean there's snow plastered on everything.
While I was walking outside, a man with a shovel asked me which way a street was.
He'd been paid to shovel the entrance to a building but said there was so much snow that he couldn't read the street signs.
He was only two streets away.
Image source, Brandon Livesay / BBC'The weather is getting worse', says Brit stuck in Bostonpublished at 16:00 GMT
Andrée Massiah
BBC NewsJason Hunter-Jones, who lives in Durham, works for British Airways and arrived in Boston on Sunday.
He was due to fly back to the UK today, but flights have been cancelled because of the weather conditions.
“I was only going to be here for 24 hours, but all four flights have been cancelled." he tells the BBC.
He adds that when he went to sleep, around 22:00 last night, there was no snow. But assumes it must have fallen in the early hours.
"I went outside earlier and saw a few cars getting stuck in the snow," he says. "Looking outside the weather is getting worse - it’s like a blizzard.”
Here's what you need to know about Monday's snowpublished at 15:48 GMT
Image source, Getty ImagesIf you're just joining us, it's still mid-morning in the US where 22 inches (55.9cm) of snow has fallen overnight in parts of the east coast.
A major nor'easter storm has brought blizzards and strong winds, including in New York City, which is under its first blizzard warning in nine years.
Here's what else you need to know.
- What is a nor'easter? These storms develop off the east coast of the US, made from strong areas of low pressure. They're really common storms but don't necessarily bring snow - or this much of it
- Who's affected? Around 40 million people are under blizzard warnings in the US - including New York City, Boston and Philadelphia - and a further 19 million face winter storm warnings
- That's led New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware and Rhode Island to declare states of emergency, resulting in travel bans across several cities and states
- What about power? Hundreds of thousands are without power - including 240,000 households in Massachusetts and 135,000 in New Jersey - as electricity providers face "an absolute mess"
- And schools? All New York City schools are closed on Monday, with hundreds more across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut and New Jersey
- More travel disruption:Thousands of flights within, to or out of the US are cancelled today, including from UK airports, while "near impossible" travel conditions are expected in New York
Our reporter Brandon Livesay is out in New York, where his neighbours are trying to fight the blizzards by shovelling snow away.
For Matt, New York looks like a 'fairytale' - he just hopes he can fly homepublished at 15:31 GMT
James Kelly
UGC Hub
Image source, Bloomberg via Getty ImagesMatt Bowring is in New York with his family as part of a week's holiday in the US to mark his 50th birthday.
Matt, from Barry in Wales, says the city looks like "a fairytale" but he is worried how they will get home. They are due to fly back to the UK tomorrow.
"We've woken up this morning to a huge dumping of snow," he says. "The children are excited; we as parents are however a little concerned.
"We're due to fly back to the UK tomorrow... We weren't expecting a snow bomb."
As we have reported, thousands of flights have been cancelled due to the severe weather.
"We have no idea when we'll be flying back as there will be a backlog of flights for Virgin and BA [British Airways] to make up," Matt says. "New York at 7am this morning does look like a fairytale."
