New York Travel Ban and Northeast Record Snow Shut Down Cities as More Than 5,675 Flights Are Canceled
new york was among the cities brought to a near standstill after a major snowstorm struck the US east coast on Monday, dumping record totals in parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and triggering widespread travel bans and outages. The storm’s scale and timing left transportation systems, utilities and emergency services scrambling as communities dug out.
Providence saw 33in of snow and a broken record
Providence, Rhode Island’s capital, received 33in (83cm) of snow, a total that shattered the previous single-storm record of 28. 6in set in February 1978. Rhode Island appeared to take the heaviest hit of the storm, and local media called it the worst snowstorm to ever strike the state. The extraordinary accumulation prompted towing operations: more than 300 vehicles were towed in Providence for blocking plows before tow efforts paused in the afternoon when drivers began assisting stranded motorists.
Maura Healey ordered travel bans and speed reductions on the Pike
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey imposed a travel ban on non-essential driving in parts of the state and announced a reduced speed limit on the Pike of 40mph (25kmh). In an online post she warned that "whiteout conditions are making travel extremely dangerous" and urged residents to stay off the roads because rescuers would have difficulty reaching stranded drivers.
New York saw more than 19in in Central Park and near-impossible conditions
Central Park recorded more than 19in of snow as the National Weather Service monitored storm impacts across the region. A state agency described travel as "near impossible" in New York, and a travel ban left the city of over 8 million people largely immobilized until it was lifted at noon local time.
Power outages hit New Jersey, Massachusetts and Barnstable County
More than 600, 000 homes and businesses across the east coast experienced power outages, with New Jersey and Massachusetts among the worst hit. In Massachusetts nearly 300, 000 customers were without power; Barnstable County, which includes Cape Cod, endured outages affecting about 85% of its customers. In Connecticut and New Jersey officials warned that falling trees and broken branches created additional hazards and risked further outages.
Flight cancellations and national disruption tracked by FlightAware
Travel snarls extended beyond roads. Tracking site FlightAware registered more than 5, 675 cancelled flights within, into or out of the US as people attempted to travel on Monday. The cancellations were part of broader disruption that affected millions of travelers and strained airline and airport operations across the eastern seaboard.
National Weather Service warnings stretched from North Carolina to northern Maine and beyond
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from North Carolina to northern Maine, with some warnings extending into parts of eastern Canada. Forecasters cautioned that the snow would persist throughout Monday and that locations near the northeast coastline could expect an additional 1ft to 2ft (61cm) of snow accumulation by Tuesday morning.
Candice Hrencecin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boston, said the storm "completely smashed" records and that forecasters "were just as shocked as everyone else, " underscoring the storm’s intensity and the challenge it posed to preparation and response.
What makes this notable is how quickly heavy snowfall translated into cascading impacts: record accumulations in coastal New England produced immediate travel bans and speed restrictions, which in turn stalled urban life, overwhelmed utility systems and led to thousands of flight cancellations. At the same time, one regional news site displayed a message telling readers their browsers were not supported and urged downloading a modern browser after the outlet rebuilt its site to use the latest web technology for a faster, easier experience — a minor but telling reminder that infrastructure strain during emergencies can extend even to local digital services.
Officials and emergency services continued to respond into the afternoon, with some tow operations paused to prioritize rescues and community assistance. Other details on ongoing recovery efforts and later snowfall totals were unclear in the provided context.
