- Over two feet of snow in many areas
- More than 2,200 flights canceled Tuesday
- School attendance drops sharply in NYC
- Another weather system expected Wednesday
The Northeast Snowstorm that swept across the US Northeast left millions trying to return to normal life on Tuesday. The storm affected states including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and Connecticut, bringing record snowfall, widespread flight cancellations and disruptions to schools and power supply. Weather officials have warned that another system from the Great Lakes could reach the region by Wednesday.
Debate Over the Decision to Open Schools
In major cities like Boston and Hartford (Connecticut), schools remained closed, but in New York City, the public school system with more than 900,000 students was kept open. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called it a regular workday and even said that children could throw snowballs at him if they wanted.
However, the ground reality remained mixed. Many parents were seen taking their children to school through high piles of snow. Danielle Obloz, the mother of a student studying in Brooklyn, said that schools could have remained closed for one more day.
On the first day after the storm and the midwinter break, nearly one out of every six teachers took leave. The administration had to call in more than 5,000 substitute teachers. Early figures show that only 63 percent of children attended school, while in the previous term the average was around 90 percent.
Philadelphia chose the option of online classes for two days. Schools were also closed on Tuesday in Long Island and several areas around New York.
Record-Breaking Snowfall and One Death
According to weather experts, this storm was the strongest in a decade. In many places, more than two feet of snow fell. In Rhode Island, more than three feet of snowfall was recorded — surpassing the historic snowfall of 1978.
In Newport, Rhode Island, 21-year-old Joseph Boutros was found unconscious inside a vehicle. According to police, the Salve Regina University student died due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Former chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ryan Maue, estimated through artificial intelligence-based mapping that if the total snow that fell from Maryland to Maine were piled up at once over Manhattan, its height could exceed one mile. According to his estimate, when melted, it would produce about 2.5 trillion gallons of water — equivalent to filling the Empire State Building more than 9,000 times.
Impact on Transportation and Electricity
By Tuesday morning, many major roads had been reopened. Electricity supply was partially restored in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, and Rhode Island. In Cape Cod (Massachusetts), more than 100,000 consumers remained without power.
Disruptions were also seen in rail services. Amtrak canceled some trains on the Boston–New York and New York–Philadelphia routes. Meanwhile, New Jersey Transit services continued to operate. The Long Island Rail Road deployed a special snowplow car named “Darth Vader” to remove snow.
Air travel was also badly shaken. According to FlightAware, around 2,200 flights were canceled on Tuesday. The worst impact was seen at airports in New York, New Jersey, and Boston. T.F. Green International Airport in Rhode Island had to be completely shut on Monday, where about 38 inches of snow had accumulated.
‘Bomb Cyclone’ and the Next System
The weather agency described this system as a “classic bomb cyclone.” This term is used when a rapid drop in storm pressure is recorded within 24 hours.
Now attention is on a clipper storm coming from the Great Lakes, which may bring a mix of rain and light snow. Maryland weather expert Frank Pereira says that this new storm will be less intense, but in places where snow is already on the ground, a few more inches could add to the trouble.
Snow Removal Strategy and Controversy
The New York City administration has planned to deploy snow melter units on a large scale, where snow will be dumped into tanks of hot water. In a recent storm, 23 million pounds of snow were melted using this method.
In Providence, Rhode Island, the city administration is dumping snow at five locations. Officials have indicated that additional sites may be added if needed.
However, State Representative David Morales has criticized the decision to dump snow on a vacant lot in South Providence. He said that the area is already facing pollution issues and is home to a large number of communities of color. The city’s communications director Josh Estrella clarified that the dumping sites are spread across the city.
From Snowball Fight to Courtroom Impact
Amid the storm, a large-scale snowball event took place at Washington Square Park in New York, but viral videos on social media showed people also targeting two police officers. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch called it criminal and unacceptable.
The storm also affected judicial proceedings. A hearing in a high-profile sex trafficking case at the federal court in Manhattan was disrupted. In the trial against Elon, Oren, and Tal Alexander, one jury member remained stuck in Miami and could not return on time. Judge Valerie Caproni removed that jury member to avoid delay.
Conditions are gradually returning to normal, but the thick layer of snow, partially restored services, and the possibility of a new system — all together continue to pose challenges for both the administration and the public.
