Severe Winter Storm Hits North-East USA

A severe winter storm has struck the northeastern coast of the United States, marking one of the most intense snowstorms in the past two years.

Cities in the region have been covered with over a foot of snow, leading to widespread travel disruptions and the suspension of in-person schooling for thousands of students in New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, with a shift to online classes.

The impact of the storm has been significant, resulting in the cancellation of approximately 1,200 US flights, primarily in New York and Boston, along with another 1,700 flights facing delays.

Despite the chaos, there have been no reported serious injuries or deaths attributed to the storm.

Snowfall began rapidly in the early morning hours, affecting an estimated 50 million people along the stretch from eastern Pennsylvania to Massachusetts.

Some areas experienced the heaviest snowfall in years, exemplified by Farmington, Connecticut, which recorded 15.5 inches (39 cm) of snow on Tuesday.

The blizzard disrupted normal life by knocking out power to 150,000 residents in Pennsylvania. Treacherous travel conditions led to minor car accidents in Boston and New York City, prompting certain regions to impose bans on commercial vehicles and officials urging residents to refrain from travel whenever possible.

In response to the challenging weather conditions, New York City students transitioned to remote learning, but the initiative faced technical glitches affecting the district's 900,000 students.

Mayor Eric Adams defended the decision, emphasizing the importance of addressing the learning setbacks incurred during the pandemic.

The storm brought an end to a 744-day snow drought for New York City, which had not experienced more than 2.5 inches of snow in over two years.