Major blizzard blankets US Northeastern coast
Meteorologists predict winter storm to dump several feet of snow in NYC, having already hit Washington, DC
A powerful winter storm struck the United States' eastern seaboard Monday, already dumping several inches of snow along the stretch of coast, including New York City, having also blanketed the nation's capital.
The National Weather Service issued storm warnings from Virginia to Maine -- a swathe home to tens of millions of people -- and forecast snowfall of 18 to 24 inches (45-60 centimeters) in southern New York, northeastern New Jersey and parts of southwest Connecticut, according to AFP.
The NWS warned New Yorkers to expect a snowfall rate of two to four inches per hour beginning on Monday, with "near-blizzard" conditions closer to the coast.
Both New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared states of emergency, restricting non-essential travel, closing roads and closing government offices for all but critical workers.
"This winter storm will be dangerous with heavy snowfall and strong winds. If you can stay home, stay home," de Blasio said on Twitter.
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In addition, school districts across the Northeast canceled in-person learning on Monday, and many COVID-19 vaccination sites were closed.
US President Joe Biden met with senior advisors on Sunday to discuss the coming storm, as well as the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out and economic relief, according to a White House official.
Transportation was severely affected as hundreds of flights were canceled out of New York's La Guardia airport and New Jersey's Newark. "Amtrak canceled all Acela service between Boston and Washington and Pennsylvanian service between New York and Pittsburgh," reported The Associated Press.
The storm, which is making its way across the country having hit mountainous parts of California before dropping approximately 8 inches of snow on Chicago, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm is expected to continue in the northeast until Tuesday, capping off with a mixture of ice, sleet and freezing rain, reported AFP.