A blizzard battered the Northeast, triggering widespread outages, thousands of crashes and more than 10,700 flight cancellations.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A powerful blizzard sweeping across the Northeast has left two people dead, nearly 700,000 customers without electricity and more than 10,700 flights canceled, as heavy snow and hurricane-force wind gusts disrupted transportation and public safety across multiple states.
Authorities confirmed that near Sunderland, Maryland, two individuals were killed Sunday afternoon when a tree collapsed onto their vehicle as the nor’easter intensified, according to FOX Weather. The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office said a third occupant was trapped inside the vehicle and transported to a hospital in critical condition.
State officials reported widespread emergency responses as the storm advanced. On Monday, Maryland State Police said they received more than 1,190 calls for service and responded to 343 crashes during the snowstorm, noting in a statement posted on X: “Maryland State Police received more than 1,190 calls for service and responded to 343 crashes during the course of this snowstorm.” The agency added, “Nearly 30% of the calls for service originated from the Eastern Shore with a total of 334 calls for service.”
Utility providers reported that nearly 675,000 customers across the region lost power as heavy, wet snowfall combined with wind gusts between 50 and 75 miles per hour. Delaware declared a State of Emergency after more than 100 roads were blocked by fallen trees and debris.
Air travel faced major disruptions. More than 10,700 flights were canceled, and total disruptions nationwide exceeded 22,000 flights over the three-day period ending Tuesday, as airports across the Northeast suspended or delayed operations due to whiteout conditions and unsafe runways.
Rhode Island recorded historic snowfall totals. At Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Providence, 32.8 inches of snow were measured, surpassing the previous record of 28.6 inches set during the Blizzard of 1978. The record-breaking accumulation occurred as the storm’s peak intensity stalled over Kent and Providence counties. Snowfall rates exceeded three inches per hour at times, effectively shutting down the state’s primary air travel hub.
In New York City, Central Park recorded 19.7 inches of snow along with wind gusts reaching 55 miles per hour, ranking the event as the ninth-largest snowstorm ever documented in the park’s recorded history.
Across the region, municipalities imposed, extended or lifted travel bans in response to deteriorating road conditions. Officials continued urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel as cleanup operations and power restoration efforts progressed.
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