Record Snowfall Batters U.S. East Coast, Over 5,000 Flights Cancelled
A powerful winter storm brought record-breaking snowfall to the eastern coast of the United States, forcing the cancellation of more than 5,000 domestic and international flights and leaving millions facing severe disruptions.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the snowstorm swept across the East Coast from Sunday night through Monday, stretching from North Carolina to northern Maine, and extending into parts of Canada. States including New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut were among the worst affected.
Several areas in Rhode Island and Massachusetts were buried under snow measuring up to 37 inches. In New York City, Central Park recorded 19 inches of snowfall. The storm also triggered widespread power outages, leaving more than 600,000 homes without electricity across six states.
Rhode Island, the smallest U.S. state by area, saw its capital Providence blanketed by 36 inches of snow—setting a new record. The previous high was 28.6 inches, recorded during a historic storm in February 1978.
Describing the situation, NWS official Candace Herrenkesin told The New York Times, “This storm is absolutely devastating. Even for us, witnessing snowfall of this magnitude has been shocking.”
Authorities in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have imposed bans on non-essential travel. In a statement shared on social media, Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts, warned that road conditions are extremely dangerous and urged residents to stay indoors unless travel is absolutely necessary.
