10,000 flights canceled in America due to severe storm, power cut to millions of homes

New York: A severe winter storm that hit the northeastern part of America brought the entire region to a halt. Within no time, cities were covered with a thick layer of white snow, roads became deserted and people remained confined to their homes. Strong winds and continuous snowfall severely affected life. The situation became such that traveling became almost impossible. The storm had the biggest impact on air services.

According to flight tracking service FlightAware, more than 10,000 flights were canceled between Saturday and Tuesday. More than 5,000 flights had to be canceled on Monday alone, while more than 1,300 flights were already canceled for Tuesday also. Keeping security in mind, the airlines had already grounded the planes. Major airports like New York’s JFK and LaGuardia, Boston’s Logan and Newark’s Liberty were the most affected. The terminals, which are usually crowded with people, appeared almost empty.

Road and rail services halted

Not only air travel, but bus and rail services also remained closed in many states. New York City banned non-essential travel until noon. Similar orders were also issued in many parts of New York State, New Jersey and Rhode Island. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appealed to people to stay in their homes and not go out unnecessarily. Snow removal teams continued to work, but the situation was difficult to handle due to strong winds.

Record snowfall and strong winds

More than 15 inches of snow was recorded in New York City’s Central Park. Up to two feet of snow fell in some areas of Long Island and New Jersey. Nearly one foot of snowfall occurred in Philadelphia, while snow continued to fall in Boston till late evening. According to meteorologists, this storm falls in the category of snow storm. Sustained winds of more than 35 mph were reported from Delaware to Massachusetts, with gusts reaching 40 to 60 mph. Wind speeds were even stronger in coastal areas, especially eastern Long Island and Nantucket, causing piles of snow several feet high.

Very bad travel conditions

The National Weather Service warned that travel was nearly impossible along many parts of the Interstate 95 corridor. Accidents occurred at many places and vehicles were stranded for hours. Low visibility and slippery roads made the situation more dangerous.

impact on power supply

Due to the storm, electricity was lost to more than 5 lakh 70 thousand houses and business establishments on the east coast. Massachusetts and New Jersey were the most affected. Electricity workers continued to work to restore service under difficult conditions.

Emergency measures and closure of institutions

In view of the situation, many states took emergency steps. New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed the National Guard to assist in the hardest-hit areas. A state of emergency was declared in Massachusetts and non-essential workers were instructed to stay at home. In view of the seriousness of the storm, the United Nations Headquarters in New York was also closed for the day.