Nor'Easter Live Alerts: NYC Schools Closed

A snow emergency has been declared in Boston.
New York City Public Schools Announces Move to Distance Learning
Hundreds of flights were canceled at airports in Boston and New York.

School closures were announced in major cities including Boston and New York, hundreds of flights were canceled and drivers were warned of hazardous conditions as the winter storm moved northeast.

The system was named Winter Storm Lorraine by The Weather Channel. As it approached the East Coast it was on a nor'easter track, which occurs when winds blow from the Atlantic Ocean into a strong area of low pressure from the northeast.

Get the full forecast here.

(8:20 a.m. ET) Snow has been the most interesting place for our experts so far

Senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman from weather.com:

In winter storms, we often see relatively narrow bands of heavy snow accumulation, usually with sharp frontal zones – what meteorologists call “frontogenesis.” Snowfall rates in excess of 1 inch per hour can occur in these bands, sometimes with lightning.

Meanwhile, 6 to 10 inches of snow has already accumulated from central Pennsylvania to southwest of Hartford, Connecticut.

(8:10 am ET) Snow threatens to chill voter turnout in New York special election

From the weather.com editor Tim Harris:

A snowstorm could cast a shadow over the race to control a key congressional seat left vacant by the departure of Jorge Santos as New York City's suburbs prepare for a special election on Tuesday. With turnout projections already low due to the shortened race period, the added challenge of inclement weather could further hurt voter efforts.

(7:55 a.m. ET) The slight change means changes to the forecast for millions

Meteorologist Dominica Davies explains in this video that the low associated with Winter Storm Lorraine is a little farther south, and that means a change in higher expected snowfall totals. As a result, the snow forecast for Boston was downgraded, and parts of southern New England are expected to finish this storm with more snow.

Regardless, the nor'easter is still expected to bring powerful winds to many areas, and power outage concerns remain high. Already, more than 65,000 homes and businesses in Pennsylvania are in the dark. PowerOutage.us.

(Reporting directly from Lorraine, Dell

The Weather Channel braved the elements in several places this morning. Meteorologist Mike Seidel reported live from New York City's Central Park, where more than an inch of snow has fallen so far. If the spot is more than 3 inches, jan. 28-29, marking the first time since 2022 that a winter storm dumped 8.5 inches of snow on Kenan Park.

While reporting live in Hartford, Connecticut, Reynolds Wolf saw more snow than Seidel.

(7:30 a.m. ET) Drivers battle snow-covered roads in Virginia

Northwest of the nation's capital, snow covered roads in and around the town of Perryville, Virginia, leading to several documented wrecks. The Storm Chaser by Peter Forrester.

(7:15 a.m. ET) The snow is a test for New York City's new snowplow tracking technology

Senior Editor Niki Patnick from weather.com:

BladeRunner 2.0, a new way for New York City officials to clear streets after snowstorms Announced in December.

The technological improvement improved on New York City's old plowing system, which plowed only primary streets, then secondary and tertiary streets. Now, officials say every bike lane, street and highway will be salted and then plowed. Once the snow reaches 2 inches.

Mayor Eric Adams said in a press release, “We're never more ready for winter, thanks to our new BladeRunner 2.0 software, which will help us better track and support nearly 5,000 vehicles across all five boroughs.”

New Yorkers can use PlowNYC To monitor the progress of snowfall in their surroundings.

(7 a.m. ET) snowfall totals for this hour

Here are the heaviest snowfalls so far, according to the National Weather Service:

– Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania: 10.5 inches

– Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania: 9.7 inches

— Near Freeland, Pennsylvania: 9.5 inches

– Drums and Richfield, Pennsylvania: 9 inches each

Here's some more information on the storm ahead of our live update coverage this morning:

Flight cancellations stack up; Drivers warned to stay home

There were hundreds of Mars flights at airports in the Boston and New York area Cancelled Ahead of the storm, according to flight tracker FlightAware. As of Monday evening, LaGuardia, Boston Logan, John F. Kennedy and Newark airports were the hardest hit.

Nationwide, more than 1,000 flights in and out of the U.S. were canceled Tuesday, FlightAware reported.

Airlines including Delta And United Change fees were waived at major airports in cities in the storm's path, including Baltimore, Boston, metro New York, Philadelphia and Washington.

Driving in and around parts of the Interstate 95 corridor can become hazardous. Commuters and commuters are advised to check road conditions and weather forecasts throughout their route.

How is this area prepared for the storm?

On Monday afternoon, crews across the region began putting salt on roads with hundreds of crews, vehicles and snow removal equipment.

In Morris County, New Jersey, residents were advised to think twice before heading out tonight or tomorrow morning.

“Usually, we look at where problem Jeffrey Paul, the county's emergency management director, told Northjersey.com, “We have vehicles that are not comfortable to be in or people who are not comfortable driving in the conditions, our increased emergency response. is coming in. We always tell people to be smart.”

(Further: There is a peak time for large nor'easter snowstorms)

Schools were announced to be closed in several cities.

The nation's largest school system, the New York City Public Schools Go for distance learning. Classes are Totally cancelled in Boston.

“please Stay off the roads Boston Mayor Michael Wu said Monday, according to WCVB-TV. “Where possible, plan to stay indoors.”

The mayor declared a snow emergency, putting parking restrictions in place to accommodate snow removal equipment.

Dozens of school districts across Rhode Island have announced closings or moving to virtual learning.

In Pennsylvania, Vehicle restrictions 3 a.m. Tuesday on all or parts of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and several major interstates including Interstates 78, 80, 84 and 99.

How much snow does New York City get?

The storm carries the potential for snow that hasn't been seen in the Big Apple in more than two years.

“The last snowstorm of 3 to 6 inches or more in Central Park was on January 28-29, 2022 with 8.5 inches falling. “This storm will be very large after that, and the exact forecast will depend on rain and snow transition,” Weather.com Senior Meteorologist Chris Doles said Monday morning.

“Where there is snow, it's going to be very heavy. Some places are seeing 1 to 2 inches of snow per hour.

(Further: Here's what you need to know about the '40/70 benchmark' and Northeast snow)

Accumulation totals could reach half a foot along with high winds in places like Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

“I think we'll have some sporadic power outages, some coastal flooding around the high tides,” weather.com on-air meteorologist Ari Sarsalari said.

What is a nor'easter?

From Dolls: A nor'easter is a wind direction that tracks low pressure systems near the eastern seaboard. Not all East Coast storms receive this moniker, as a nor'easter must bring winds along the coast from a northeasterly direction. These storms occur more frequently in the fall through winter and early spring, but snow is not a requirement.