Weather experts said the storm is notable because of its scale across densely populated regions. Cody Snell, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center of the National Weather Service, said large nor’easter storms can bring heavy snowfall, but this event affects an unusually wide area.
Snowfall forecasts indicate that metropolitan areas such as New York City could receive 12 to 18 inches of snow, with higher totals possible in nearby locations. The weather service defines a blizzard as snow or blowing snow that reduces visibility to a quarter mile or less for at least three hours, combined with sustained winds of 35 miles per hour or more.
New York City officials deployed more than 700 salt spreaders and converted thousands of garbage trucks into snow removal equipment to help clear streets. City authorities warned residents that this was the first blizzard warning for the city in nearly a decade.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York declared a state of emergency and activated National Guard units to assist emergency response operations.
