A ferocious winter tempest dubbed Storm Everett by the NWS battered the U.S. East Coast on Monday. It dumped record snow, stranding millions in chaos.
Drifts hit 37in (94cm) in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. New York City’s Central Park saw over 19in. Travel halted amid “near impossible” conditions in New York. Power cuts struck 600,000 properties, worst in New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Rhode Island set a state record at 36in in Providence, topping 1978’s 28.6in. “It completely smashed it,” said Candice Hrencecin, National Weather Service meteorologist in Boston, to the New York Times. “We were just as shocked as everyone else.”
Travel bans hit Rhode Island, Connecticut, and parts of Massachusetts. Governor Maura Healey announced, “I’m issuing a travel ban on all non-essential driving in Southeastern Massachusetts—and reducing the speed limit on the Pike to 40mph [25kmh].”
“Whiteout conditions are making travel extremely dangerous,” she added. “If you get stuck, help will have a hard time reaching you. I strongly urge everyone to stay off the roads no matter where you live.”
Nearly 300,000 lost power in Massachusetts. New York City shut roads until noon. Over 300 vehicles were towed in Providence.
FlightAware tallied 5,706 cancellations. LaGuardia scrapped 98%, JFK 91%, Boston Logan and Newark 92% each, Philadelphia 80%. Tuesday forecasts 2,000 more.
Losses may exceed £2 billion. Cleanup continues amid flood risks from warming-driven storms.