A blizzard warning stretching from Delaware to Massachusetts took effect Saturday as a rapidly intensifying storm threatened to bring heavy snow and strong winds to the heavily populated Northeast corridor. The National Weather Service issued the warnings for New York City, Long Island, Boston, and coastal communities in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, predicting potential snowfall totals of 1 to 2 feet.
The storm’s projected severity increased significantly in the days leading up to its expected arrival Sunday morning, prompting officials to accelerate preparations. “Whereas we do get plenty of these nor’easters that produce heavy snow and strong impacts, it’s been several years since we saw one of this magnitude across this large of a region in this highly populated part of the country,” said Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city would leverage strategies employed during a recent major snowfall event. A decision regarding school closures for Monday remained pending, with officials emphasizing the need for up-to-date information. “We saw on Friday there was expectation that the likelihood was that we were going to face maybe 3 to 4 inches of snow. Quickly that then changed,” Mamdani said. The city is supplementing its snow removal fleet with additional equipment and utilizing geocoding technology to prioritize clearing bus stops and crosswalks.
In New Jersey, Atlantic City officials urged residents and visitors to avoid travel, particularly in low-lying areas susceptible to flooding. Scott Evans, the city’s fire chief and emergency management coordinator, warned of the danger of hidden flooding caused by accumulating snow. “I could go on and on probably with a decent two dozen streets where we know we will get water and there will be snow on top of that,” Evans said. “So you won’t be able to see it until it’s too late, so therefore please stay at home.”
Many churches across the region preemptively canceled Sunday services. St. Veronica Parish in Howell, New Jersey, added an extra Mass on Saturday evening to accommodate parishioners. “Please stay safe, avoid unnecessary travel, and keep one another in prayer during the storm,” the Rev. Peter James Alindogan posted online.
Businesses are also bracing for the storm’s impact. John Berlingieri, owner of Berrington Snow Removal on Long Island, canceled a family trip to Puerto Rico to prepare his fleet of 40 front-end loaders for what he anticipates will be a week of continuous operation. “I’m anticipating at least one week of work around the clock,” Berlingieri said. “We’re going to work 24 to 36 hours straight, sleep for a few hours and then go back.”
The approaching storm arrives as the region continues to recover from a previous snowstorm, with lingering ice only recently beginning to melt. The National Weather Service warned of sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph, potentially causing dangerous travel conditions, downed tree limbs, and power outages.
