East Coast braced for blizzard as nor’easter threatens 35 million people

Blizzard warnings issued Saturday now stretch from eastern Maryland to eastern Massachusetts as a powerful nor’easter moves up the coast, forecasters and city officials warned, threatening heavy, wet snow, high winds, coastal flooding and widespread power outages beginning Sunday and extending into Monday.

The National Weather Service said in a social post: "A major winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, high winds, blizzard conditions and coastal flooding across the Mid‑Atlantic and Northeast today into Monday as a low‑pressure system rapidly intensifies off the Mid‑Atlantic coast. Nearly impossible travel and power outages are expected from the DelMarVa to southeastern New England." More than 35 million people are under blizzard warnings in the affected arc, with the period of most intense impact expected Sunday into Monday.

The NWS Weather Prediction Center forecaster Cody Snell warned of heavy accumulations along the coast: "at least 18 inches to 2 feet of snow along parts of the East Coast from New Jersey up through Massachusetts." Snell added that the storm will produce intense rates of snowfall and that, "We're going to see the snowfall be very heavy and wet. … It's going to weigh down trees, power lines." Forecast maps show snowfall rates locally reaching 1 to 3 or more inches per hour, a combination of rapid accumulation and gusts that meet blizzard criteria.

Winds are expected to be severe. Officials cited a broad forecast of gusts from 40 to 70 mph from the New Jersey coast into New England, with localized forecasts showing gusts near 55 mph in New York City. Forecasters note that blizzard conditions require sustained blowing or falling snow, winds of at least 35 mph and visibility reduced to one quarter mile or less for at least three hours, conditions many coastal communities now face.

City and state officials moved quickly to limit exposure. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani closed public schools for Monday and urged New Yorkers to shelter in place: "We haven't seen a storm like this in a decade. Some parts of the city could see up to 28in. Please, stay inside if you can and if you see someone on the street in need of assistance, call 311." New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and warned residents, "You need to hear this from me, someone who's been through more blizzards than any governor in the history of the state of New York. This is one to take seriously."

The storm carried immediate operational consequences. Major airports in the region reported heavy cancellations and delays; as of Sunday morning more than 60 percent of flights into John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports had been canceled, and Boston Logan, Philadelphia International and Reagan National were reporting hundreds of cancellations. Transit agencies warned commutes could be interrupted for days, and utilities warned that heavy wet snow combined with high winds increases the risk of downed trees and extended power outages.

Coastal communities face additional threats from storm surge, flooding and erosion from Delaware to Cape Cod at vulnerable high tides. Emergency managers urged residents in low-lying areas to alert officials and prepare for potential evacuations.

Forecasters said they will issue updates as the system progresses; residents should monitor NWS products, heed local emergency orders, avoid travel during peak conditions and call 311 in New York for assistance.