Arabic version: عاصفة ثلجية قياسية تعطل السفر على الساحل الشرقي للولايات المتحدة

A major storm has struck the US east coast, resulting in record-breaking snowfall and significant travel disruptions. According to BBC News, more than 5,706 flights have been cancelled due to the severe weather, with parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts receiving nearly 37 inches of snow.

New York City experienced substantial snowfall as well, with Central Park recording over 19 inches. Travel conditions have been described as “near impossible,” prompting state agencies to issue warnings. More than 600,000 homes and businesses have lost power, particularly in New Jersey and Massachusetts, where outages have been most severe.

The National Weather Service anticipates that snowfall will continue into Tuesday, with some areas near the northeast coastline expected to receive an additional 1 to 2 feet of snow. Rhode Island has been particularly hard-hit, marking the worst snowstorm in the state’s history, surpassing the previous record of 28.6 inches set in 1978.

Travel bans have been enacted in Rhode Island and Connecticut, with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey also imposing restrictions on non-essential driving. She emphasized the dangers of whiteout conditions and urged residents to avoid travel altogether.

In New York City, a travel ban temporarily halted movement in the city of over 8 million people, leading to the closure of all roads, highways, and bridges. The storm’s impact has also led to concerns in Connecticut and New Jersey regarding falling trees and branches, which could exacerbate road hazards and power outages.

As the storm continues to affect the region, it is expected that more than 2,000 additional flights will be cancelled on Tuesday, with Boston and New York airports likely to be the hardest hit.