BOSTON — A major winter storm brought heavy snow and freezing rain to some communities across New England Sunday morning, leaving residents scrambling to take out shovels and snow blowers to clear snow from sidewalks and driveways. .
Winter storm warnings and watches were in effect across the Northeast, with icy roads and dangerous travel as far south as North Carolina.
The snow in the Northeast comes as a heavy snow-laden Sierra Nevada storm closed interstates and temporarily knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes in Reno, Nevada, on Saturday.
More than 13,000 California customers were without power Sunday morning.
Some areas in Massachusetts had already recorded nearly a foot of snow by Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. More than 16,000 electricity customers across the state lost power.
Snow totals were lower in coastal areas, with only a few centimeters of snow falling in Boston. The snow is expected to continue throughout the day, with some areas seeing more than a foot of snow.
The storm also reached Maine, with some places seeing a total of 12 inches of snow, with locally heavier snowfall in southern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine. Wind gusts of up to 35 mph (56 kph) could lead to more blowing snow and blowing snow. Moderate to heavy snow is expected to continue in Vermont, with snow totals ranging from 6 to 12 inches.
The National Weather Service said a “major winter storm” will continue into Sunday night, bringing snow to parts of New England and rain and freezing rain to the central Appalachians.
The storm brought most of the rain to New York City, but northern and western counties had received double-digit snow totals by Sunday morning. Millbrook, Dutchess County, about 120 miles north of New York, recorded 1 foot of snow. Port Jervis in Orange County had 13 inches.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said on Saturday that two-thirds of the state was expected to receive more than 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow, saying, “Fortunately, some of the densely populated areas in the lower reaches of the state, including Long Island, It doesn’t rain in New York City.”
“It’s going to be the first major snowstorm of the year, and we’re ready for it,” she told Spectrum News.
In the West, a winter storm warning is in effect for the Sierra Nevada from south of Yosemite National Park to north of Reno until Saturday night, and the National Weather Service said up to 20 inches of snow could fall in the mountains around Lake Tahoe. Announced. Winds can reach 160 mph on the ridge.
Multiple spinouts and crashes temporarily closed Interstate 80, California, from the state line west of Truckee to west of Reno for several hours, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The system is expected to bring heavy snow to the mountains and rain to the coast overnight, before moving into central and southern California and then into the Southwest and southern Rocky Mountains, the weather service said.
The East Coast system was expected to continue along the northeastern coastline throughout the weekend.
The National Weather Service reported 4 inches of snow in parts of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and more than 11 inches in Jim Thorpe. In Sussex County, New Jersey, it was 11 inches.
As warnings are lifted Sunday and highway speed limits and other restrictions are lifted, forecasters still predict patchy freezing rain will cause dangerous driving in parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey. and warned motorists about black ice.
For parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning from 4 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Monday, with 6 to 12 inches of snow and winds up to 35 mph. That’s what it means.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city is preparing for the storm, but does not expect it to be a major event, and the timing of the weekend snowfall will likely mean less impact on city life. Stated. Storm surge was also not expected.
Fine surface ice up to about a quarter inch arrived in parts of western North Carolina and southern Virginia early Saturday morning.
Forecasters also warned of another northeast storm Tuesday into Wednesday, expected to dump several inches of rain on already saturated ground, resulting in flooding and wind-driven There is also the possibility of damage and downed trees and power lines. Storms can also cause coastal flooding.
