March Madness! 50 million people brace for up to TWO FEET of snow and New York declares a state of emergency as nor'easter prepares to bury the Northeast with blizzard conditionsBlizzard warnings have been issued in eight Northeastern states as authorities have advised 50 million people to prepare for up to two feet of snow to be dumped in some parts across the East Coast.
Winter Storm Stella is expected to sweep the New York region with extreme conditions, as experts predict the storm could bring 12 to 24 inches of wind-blasted snow from Monday to early Wednesday.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a state of emergency would take affect state-wide beginning at midnight on Monday evening. The city previously issued a snow alert for Monday night into Tuesday, expecting snowfall rates of up to 2 to 4 inches per hour Tuesday morning and afternoon, with gusts of up to 50 mph.
'This would certainly be the biggest snowstorm of the 2017 winter season in New York City,' said Faye Barthold, a weather service meteorologist based on Long Island.
President Trump tweeted urging 'everyone be safe' as he met with local authorities in D.C. to discuss preparations there, where the region is experiencing a winter weather warning, alongside mid-Atlantic and Northeast cities including Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore.
Blizzard warnings have been issues for areas in eastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, southeast New York, Connecticut, northern Rhode Island, western/central Massachusetts, southeast New Hampshire and southern Maine.
Authorities are warning residents across all affected areas to prepare for the possibility of widespread power outages, road closures and flight disruptions. As of Monday evening, 3,384 flights had been cancelled within, into or out of the United States.
The brunt of those cancellations took place at Chicago O'Hare International airport, where the city is anticipating its first snow of 2017, which is rare for the exceptionally cold city.
During the 2015-2016 year, the windy city saw 31.2 inches of snow fall, but this year forecasters think it will fall below that.
The first measurable snow fall occurred on December 4 when roughly six inches of snow fell around the Chicago area.
Each winter, the city averages over 40 inches of snow, and preparations for the brutal weather take place months ahead before the start of the cold season.
Meanwhile, in the western United States, the weather service forecast potentially record-setting heat in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, where temperatures were expected into the 90s in some places.
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk
