Meteorologists revise down storm forecast for New York

Winter Storm Stella arrived in NY shortly after midnight on Tuesday, bringing with it a daylong blizzard warning, school closures, a suspension of above-ground subway service and the promise of up to two feet of snow.

With forecasters predicting as much two feet of snow across parts of NY and New Jersey, life for many is coming to standstill across much of the eastern U.S. While Tuesday is a snow day for many, it’s just another day of work and school-albeit one that will be slowed by the flurries-for many people in Stella’s path.

Bank teller Jana White said her plans for riding out the storm included “lots of hot chocolate and a couple of sappy movies”. Take it seriously. When we say you got to stay off the road, you need to stay off the roads so the crews can do their work.

New York City public schools – the largest school system in the United States – canceled classes on Tuesday.

A Minneapolis-bound flight took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport as regional flights resumed.

The storm was expected to dump 12 to 18 inches (30cms to 45cms) of snow on the New York City metro area with wind gusts of up to 88km/h.

Falling temperatures could lead to icy conditions on roads and sidewalks across the Northeast following a late-season storm that plastered the region with sleet and snow.

Some 50 million people from Pennsylvania to ME faced a “rapidly intensifying nor’easter” over the course of the day that was unusual for striking so late in the winter, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). They also issued coastal flood warnings from DE through MA.

Tuesday’s powerful nor’easter paralyzed much of the Washington-to-Boston corridor, but fell short of the predicted snowfall totals in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Much of Long Island and New York City was under a blizzard warning based on the National Weather Service’s forecast.

He said 31 customers had been without power in the Parsons area from 9:45 a.m.to just after noon on Tuesday, and luckily, the snow wasn’t heavy enough to bring down many trees or cause significant power outages.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency and instructed non-essential state employees to stay home.

“During its height we could see snowfall rates of 1-3 inches (2.5-7.6cm), even up to four inches per hour”, said Alan Dunham, a meteorologist based in Taunton, Massachusetts.

The snowstorm interrupted daily routines for millions of people, closing public schools in New York, Boston and Philadelphia for the day and keeping many workers at home.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan urged people not to be lulled into a false sense of security because of the mild winter.

After over 48 hours of anticipation, warnings, and constant forecast updates, Winter Storm Stella is now slamming the East Coast of the United States with snow, ice, and plenty of wind.

“This is the time between now and when the storm arrives for residents to ensure they have emergency supplies and stocking up on anything that they may need over a period of adverse weather”, Richard D. Flinn Jr., director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, told Philly Voice.

By afternoon, as snow turned to dwindling sleet, city officials were anticipating that Wednesday’s morning rush hour would be largely back to normal and that schools would reopen.