Over the weekend, a severe winter storm called "Storm Ember" brought snow, sleet and rain to New York City and the New York City tri-state area.
The weather department predicts that a stronger storm called Finn will hit this week and cause a "flood threat" in the middle of the week due to rising river levels, potentially causing dangerous road conditions and partial power outages. By then, nearly 70 million people will be at risk of extreme weather in storm warnings!
Combined weather forecasts, from Friday to Saturday, a new storm system has formed in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, with a westerly direction jet stream emerging from the Pacific Ocean south of Alaska. And at the beginning of this week, it continued to intensify into a more violent winter storm heading towards the northeast of the United States!
A major winter storm is expected to develop in the Great Plains and Midwest. Since strong winds will accompany snowfall, there will be blowing snow in many areas, and the combination of snowfall and strong winds will lead to reduced visibility, and travel will become extremely difficult due to the blizzard conditions caused by heavy winds and the potential danger of high winds.
Storm Ember is sweeping through the east since Saturday afternoon, and snow has fallen in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Orange County, New York, and other places have seen the heaviest snowfall, with snow already up to 1 foot thick.
And the newly developed Storm Finn has already organized in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and as Finn moves northeast, cities such as New Orleans, Louisiana, Gulfport, Mississippi and Alabama are at risk of strengthening at level 3 (level 5), with storms sweeping across the region in the afternoon and night.
The likelihood of tornadoes is particularly high in this region. In addition, there is a risk of moderate rainfall of level 3 (level 4), with an expected rainfall of 3 to 5 inches, which could trigger flooding.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has lifted travel restrictions for commercial vehicles on all highways.
Last Saturday, the state issued travel restrictions for commercial vehicles, and as of 8 a.m. last Sunday, the following highways have resumed normal operation:
I-78, the entire stretch of the Pennsylvania New Jersey border to the New Jersey Turnpike I-95;
I-80, the entire stretch from the Pennsylvania border to I-95;
I-280, the entire stretch from I-80 to I-95;
I-287，从新泽西440号公路到纽约州边界；
New Jersey Highway 440, from Outer Bridge to Interstate 287.
Due to the storm, it is advisable for motorists to avoid or postpone travel if possible in areas where snow and ice are expected.
Regarding flights, travel from New York to Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore and more could be affected, and airlines have taken proactive measures ahead of the storm. Please check with each airline as each airline has a different change deadline.
If you're planning to travel, the following routes within the U.S. are worth noting:
On Saturdays and Sundays via Albany, NY (ALB), Allentown (ABE), Baltimore (BWI), Bangor, MA (BGR), Boston (BOS), Burlington, VT (BTV), Harrisburg (MDT), Hartford (BDL), Manchester, NH (MHT), JFK (NY), LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR), Philadelphia (PHL), Pittsburgh (PIT), Travelers in Portland, Maine (PWM), Providence, Rhode Island (PVD), Salisbury/Ocean City, MD (SBY), Pennsylvania State College (SCE), Syracuse (SYR), Washington Dulles (IAD), Washington Reagan (DCA), White Plains/West Chester County, NY (HPN), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (AVP), and Worcester, MA (ORH) have issued flight cancellation announcements.
Delta Air Lines also issued a flight cancellation statement for flights on January 6 and 7 in Albany, Allentown, Baltimore, Bangor, Binghamton, Boston, Charleston (CRW), Charlottesville (CHO), Harrisburg, Hartford, New York JFK, New York LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Washington D.C. Dulles, Washington D.C. Reagan and White Plains.
JetBlue has also issued flight cancellation announcements in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Hartford, Newark, New York (JFK), New York (LGA), Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rochester, Syracuse, West Chester County and Worcester.
Southwest Airlines cancels a flight and you can change it without having to pay the difference. Southwest abstain destinations and departures include Albany, Baltimore, Boston, Hartford, Long Island/Eslip, New York (ISP), Manchester, New York (LaGuardia), Philadelphia, Portland, Providence, Syracuse, Washington (Dulles), and Washington (Reagan Nation).
United Airlines also waived flights to Allentown, Albany, Hartford, Boston, Burlington, New York/Newark, Manchester, Philadelphia, Providence and Portland on January 6 and 7.