New York City and New Jersey declare states of emergency as Winter Storm Orlena hits the East Coast

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New York City is on its way to recording one of the heaviest snowfalls since 1869 with forecasters predicting that Winter Storm Orlena will drop up to two feet of snow in the Big Apple as Gov Andrew Cuomo warned New Yorkers to take the weather seriously and expect to be home for two days.

The storm, which has already barreled across the Midwest, leaving nearly a foot of snow in Chicago, was bearing down on on the Eastern US, hitting Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., along with New York.

During a press conference on Monday afternoon, Cuomo said the storm is ‘only going to get worse’. 

‘Snow plows cannot keep up with two inches per hour,’ Cuomo said. ‘We’re looking at a long two days here,’ he added, urging New York residents to stay inside. ‘If you are not an essential worker you should not be on the roads during the state of emergency.’

Cuomo said some roads in the state are now impassable just before Sarah Feinberg, the interim president of the New York City Transit Authority, confirmed that outdoor subway service will be suspended at 2pm. ‘Underground service will continue to operate. Some bus routes may be suspended in the coming hours,’ Feinberg added. 

Officials also announced that 90 per cent of flights have been canceled across New York City and it’s expected that the few remaining flights will also be canceled. 

Orlena is predicted to bring blizzard-like conditions and drop between 18 to 24 inches of snow in New York City from Monday into Tuesday, coupled with wind gusts up to 45 to 55mph. 

Numerous states, including New York, have shut down their COVID-19 vaccination sites. While local officials were hoping that vaccination sites could reopen on Tuesday, Cuomo said they would not. 

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He said all Monday and Tuesday appointments have been postponed ‘and will be rescheduled’. A total of 1.9 million people in New York have been vaccinated, Cuomo said.  

If forecasts hold and New York City gets 24 inches of snow, it would mark the fourth-biggest snowfall the city has seen since at least 1869, when records began.

The last time it snowed more than 24 inches was in January 2016, when 27.3 inches of snow was recorded in Central Park – the record for a New York City snowfall. And the city got just a shade over 24 inches – 24.1 – on February 12, 2006.

Earlier on Monday, Cuomo declared a state of emergency for New York City and nine other counties throughout the Hudson Valley and Long Island. 

Specifically, the counties included in the emergency declaration are Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Cuomo also issued an advisory for travelers and commuters – depending upon the severity of the storm, above ground subway service, as well as service on portions of the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North, may be significantly delayed or stopped by this afternoon. 

A number of major roadways including the Long Island Expressway, I-84 and others could face travel bans if snowfall rates reach the expected two to three inch per hour rate. 

New Yorkers are being urged to avoid all unnecessary travel. Those New Yorkers who must travel should do so with extreme caution and try to get to their destination before noon. 

‘This storm is no joke and the main concern right now is that the expected snowfall rate of two inches per hour this afternoon creates an extremely dangerous situation on our roadways,’ Cuomo said in the statement. 

‘When snow is falling that quickly, it makes it very difficult for plows to keep up with it. I want New Yorkers to hear me loud and clear – stay home and off the roads and if you must travel, get where you’re going before noon, and expect to remain home for some time. 

‘We’ve been through this before and we will get through it again,’ he added. 

Wind gusts could reach 50mph or more on Long Island, especially eastern Long Island where 60mph wind gusts could occur, while many places upstate could see up to 40mph wind gusts. 

Blowing and drifting snow will likely cause reduced visibilities and treacherous driving conditions in some places.

Snow has been falling in New York City since Sunday evening when Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency for New Yorkers.  

All non-essential travel was restricted at 6am Monday. 

‘New Yorkers should stay home, keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles and let our plows work to keep us safe. Make no mistake: this storm will bring heavy snowfall and it will make travel dangerous in every neighborhood in our city,’ de Blasio said in a statement.

In-person learning was canceled in school districts across the Northeast on Monday, and many COVID-19 vaccination sites were closed. 

‘It will be rescheduled quickly. We don’t want people out trying to get a vaccination and end up being in harm’s way during this weather,’ De Blasio said on NY1.

De Blasio also said on MSNBC Monday morning that he hoped city-run vaccination sites could reopen on Tuesday. 

Several crashes were reported in New York City, with images showing a truck turned over on its side along 12th Avenue and W 50th St. 

Meanwhile, numerous flights across the US have been canceled. 

According to flightaware.com more than 1,500 flights were canceled across the US. Another 1,200 flights have significant delays.  

All New Jersey Transit trains and buses were suspended, except for the Atlantic City Rail Line. New York Waterway ferries also were suspended. 

Amtrak canceled all Acela service between Boston and Washington and Pennsylvanian service between New York and Pittsburgh. 

Amtrak’s Northeast Regional, Keystone Service and Empire Service were operating on limited or modified schedules.

Temperatures were expected to be in the upper 20s to lower 30s for the New York City metro area.  

Lara Pagano, a meteorologist with the NWS, said the nor’easter developing off the mid-Atlantic coast will be a ‘pretty slow mover’ as it brings heavy snow and strong winds through Tuesday.

‘It’s going to be a prolonged event,’ Pagano said. ‘We have snow that had made its way across much of Pennsylvania and into southern portions of New York and into Connecticut and much of New Jersey.’ 

As of Monday morning, some areas had already gotten 3 to 5 inches of snow, with 6 inches in parts of Pennsylvania, she said. In parts of New Jersey, 7 inches was already reported as of Monday morning. 

New Jersey Gov Phil Murphy on Sunday declared a state of emergency in order to deploy resources. 

He also closed all state government offices for nonessential personnel and the state’s six mega sites that distribute COVID-19 vaccines. 

New Jersey’s state of emergency went into effect at 7pm Sunday and NJ Transit busses, rail, and Access Link service will be temporarily suspended Monday.

‘Heavy snow, coastal flooding, and high winds are expected in many parts of the state. The safety of residents and workers is our utmost priority. Please follow all weather-related guidance and stay off roads in order to allow access for emergency personnel,’ Murphy said in a statement.

According to Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the NWS, the heaviest snowfall is likely to be recorded in northeastern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey.

In Pennsylvania forecasters predict 11 to 15 inches of snow in some areas and winds of up to 35 miles per hour.    

Meanwhile, photos showed preparations in Massachusetts ahead of the storm. People were seen buying shovels and other supplies to make sure they are prepared for winter storm Orlena. 

Others were seen stocking up on groceries in anticipation of the storm.  

Snow was expected to start falling in Massachusetts on Monday morning. Forecasters are predicting that up to a foot of snow will fall in the state, significantly impacting the evening commute. 

The storm will reach northern New England later Monday night, meteorologists said.

Winds strong enough to bring down tree branches with gusts ranging from 35 to 50mph are forecast for the storm.

In the storm hundreds of vehicle crashes were reported. Maryland State police responded to more than 70 crashes and to 37 disabled or unattended vehicles. 

Virginia State Police responded to more than 270 vehicle crashes and 240 stuck cars between midnight and 2pm Sunday.  

Orlena started in California last week where it brought more than six feet of snow and heavy rain to the region, before making its way to the Midwest by the weekend.

The storm system blanketed parts of the Midwest with the most snow some places had seen in several years.

Over the weekend, the Chicago O’Hare Airport recorded 9.9 inches of snow. There was about 11 inches of snow at Midway, making it the biggest snowstorm the Chicago area had seen in more than five years. A total of 12.7 inches of snow was reported in parts of Illinois.     

AccuWeather Chief Broadcast Meteorologist Bernie Rayno called the cold blast ‘monumental’.    

In Wisconsin, snow depths in some counties near Lake Michigan had reached more than 15 inches, and the snow was still falling.

‘That’s more snow than we’ve seen in a decade,’ Chris Stumpf, meteorologist with the NWS in Sullivan, Wisconsin, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Three to 5 inches of snow arrived in central Ohio by early Sunday, making for some slippery roads. 

Washington, DC, and parts of Virginia had also received some snow, with up to 3 inches in some areas.

Snow and cold in Washington led President Joe Biden to postpone a visit to the State Department that had been planned for Monday. 

A White House official said Sunday night that the visit would be rescheduled for later in the week when the agency’s staff and diplomats could more safely commute to attend.