From the Carolinas to Maine, the east coast of the U.S. experienced winter’s true face over the weekend. A powerful blizzard ripped across multiple states, leaving travellers stranded at airport and forcing road closures.
While the storm has tapered off Monday, it left a trail of damage: airports were closed in New York and New Jersey, the New York Times reports, but they will likely reopen later in the day. “Even as airports reopen, however, flight delays were expected and could extend into the week,” the Times writes.
In New York City, hundreds of travelers slept in Long Island Rail Road train cars frozen at the platform. MSNBC writes, “Others lay like refugees at the entrance to the train link to Kennedy Airport and stood helpless at the ticket office, waiting in vain for good news to flash on the schedule screens.”
CNN quotes travel writer Jason Cochran stranded at JFK airport, who said airport restaurants were running out of food. How would he describe his experience?
“I guess the best word is dejected,” he said.
Philly.com says 1,200 people spent the night at Philadelphia International Airport and they still don’t know when they will be able to leave.
The blizzard was so powerful it forced the National Football League to reschedule the Philadelphia-Minnesota scheduled for Sunday night. It will be played Tuesday night.
The Times also reports 20 inches covered Central Park, but the deepest snow was recorded in Elizabeth, N.J., where 31 inches draped the ground.
Travel by road was also affected by the blizzard. States declaring emergencies included Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Massachusetts, among other places, CNN notes.
Power had already allegedly been lost to tens of thousands of homes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, BBC News writes.
Some good news is expected this week, though: the Washington Post reports “a warming trend is expected as the week wears on, with the possibility of hitting the 50s by the New Year’s weekend.”
