U.S. east coast blizzard: 30 cms of snow, 5,700 flights cancelled, National Guard deployed

A powerful winter storm has brought large parts of the U.S. Northeast to a standstill, dumping more than 30 cms (a foot) of snow across several states and severely disrupting transport and daily life.

By Monday morning, areas of southern New England, Delaware and Philadelphia had recorded between 12 and 18 inches of snowfall, while parts of the region were forecast to receive up to two feet. Central Park in New York had already seen more than 38 cms (15 inches), with additional snowfall expected before conditions eased later in the day.

The blizzard forced the cancellation of around 5,700 flights, halted commuter rail and bus services in several states and led to widespread road closures.

Rhode Island suspended all public transport, New Jersey halted commuter lines and Connecticut barred commercial vehicles from limited-access highways.

Thousands of homes and businesses were left without power as wind gusts of up to 112 kms (70 miles) per hour raised the risk of falling trees and further outages. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors to allow emergency crews to clear snow-covered streets.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed 100 National Guard members to assist Long Island, New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley, while Massachusetts declared a state of emergency. The United Nations headquarters in Manhattan was also closed.

Despite the disruption, some New Yorkers ventured into snow-covered Central Park, where families built snowmen and staged snowball fights amid the deep drifts.

Forecasters say conditions are expected to improve gradually in New York City, although Boston and parts of northern New England may continue to see snowfall overnight.

The storm marks one of the most significant winter weather events of the season, affecting millions across the region.

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