A blizzard warning is in effect for New York City, southern Connecticut and parts of Delaware.
Drivers collide over snow parking space, causing fierce competition
Parking spaces are scarce due to a snowstorm, and drivers fight for free spaces and clash over space-saving strategies.
Millions of people have been warned of a possible blizzard as forecasts strengthen for the Northeast to threaten the East Coast over the weekend.
The winter storm that forecasters have been concerned about for days is expected to have “significant impacts” across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast from Sunday into Monday, the National Weather Service announced Saturday, Feb. 21.
A blizzard warning was issued for New York City, southern Connecticut, and parts of Delaware from Sunday morning into Monday afternoon. A winter storm warning is in effect for southern Westchester, New York State’s lower Hudson Valley, and southern interior Connecticut.
According to the NWS, blizzard conditions with heavy snow and strong winds are expected along the East Coast from Delaware to southeastern New England. The NWS said travel in these areas would be “extremely dangerous” due to reduced visibility.
Snowfall rates are expected to exceed 1 inch per hour, with some areas expected to receive 1 to 2 feet of snow, levels that are expected to cause hazardous travel conditions, the weather service said.
AccuWeather said the nor’easter was caused by a storm that moved in from the Gulf Coast over the weekend and “rapidly strengthened along the Atlantic Coast, spreading snow from West Virginia through the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England from Saturday night into Monday.”
In a post on X, New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani urged New Yorkers to “stay off the streets unless absolutely necessary. Stay home if you can.” in response to the blizzard warning.
Snowstorm forecast map: How much snow will fall?
Are you wondering how much snow is in the forecast? Use USA TODAY’s detailed winter weather forecast map below to find out where snow is expected in the coming hours and days.
Where will winter storms hit?
The storm is expected to bring 6 to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow to coastal areas from Philadelphia and New York City to Boston, according to AccuWeather. Forecasters say snow is expected to fall between 1 and 2 inches per hour Sunday into Sunday night.
“Winter storm watches and warnings are in effect along portions of the East Coast and also in the highlands of the northern Appalachians,” Weather.com meteorologist Jonathan Erdman said in an online forecast Saturday morning, Feb. 21. “I would not be surprised to see more winter storm watches convert to blizzard warnings in the coming hours.”
A low pressure system that formed Sunday off the East Coast between the Delmarva Peninsula and the Carolinas could gain enough strength to be called a “bomb cyclone” by early Monday morning, Erdman said. A “bomb cyclone” is a term used when a low pressure system develops rapidly, creating a storm similar to a winter hurricane.
The storm is expected to intensify so quickly that Brian Hurley, a senior forecaster at the National Weather Prediction Center, even called it a “superbomb” in an interview with Bloomberg.
“Today is a real nor’easter,” Hurley told Bloomberg. “This will continue for some time. It will be stagnant for most of Monday. The highest amounts are expected to be in central and eastern Long Island and coastal New Jersey, where 20 inches of rain is forecast.”
Strong winds can cause blowing and blizzard conditions, sharply reduced visibility, travel difficulties, and potential power outages. In eastern Massachusetts, minor coastal flooding may occur during high tides along with coastal erosion.
Wind gusts of 40 to 70 mph are expected from coastal New Jersey to southern New England, the NWS said. Combined with the heavy snowfall, these areas are likely to experience “numerous sporadic power outages”, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
‘Years have passed’ since a blizzard warning was issued in New York City
AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist James Spann wrote in a post on
According to the New York Times, this is the first blizzard warning for New York City since 2017.
“It’s been years since we’ve had a blizzard warning like this in the Northeast. To say it’s long overdue is an understatement,” Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel posted on X.
How to prepare for power outages
Heavy snow combined with strong and gusty winds can cause tree limbs to fall and subsequent power outages.
The American Red Cross recommends preparing for potential power outages by gathering supplies, including coolers, ice, water, flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, and seven days worth of medication.
If the power is out for less than two hours, most fresh foods are safe to consume. However, if the power goes out for more than 4 hours, you should discard the food in your refrigerator.
To stay warm, keep your family and pets in the same room. Do not use stoves or ovens to heat your home, as they can release carbon monoxide, which can lead to poisoning and death.
Contributor: Carissa Wadick
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
(This story has been updated to include new information and meet standards.)
