National Weather Service Warns of Life-Threatening Storm—Updates, Maps & Safety Tips Inside

Millions brace for a high-impact nor’easter today after the National Weather Service expanded Blizzard Warnings from Delaware to coastal Maine overnight, calling the storm “potentially the biggest in a decade.” Heavy, wet snow of 12–24 inches is forecast along the I-95 corridor, with isolated pockets above 30 inches in eastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, Long Island and southern New England. Key details from the latest NWS briefing • Rapid bombogenesis: Central pressure is projected to fall more than 24 hPa in 24 hours as the coastal low races from Cape Hatteras toward the Gulf of Maine, meeting the meteorological definition of a “bomb cyclone.” • Blizzard criteria: Sustained winds 35 mph+ and visibility below ¼ mile are expected for at least three consecutive hours in New York City, Providence and Boston. Gusts may top 70 mph along exposed capes and barrier islands, threatening widespread power outages. • Winter Storm Severity Index: The Weather Prediction Center assigns “major to extreme” impacts to the entire Northeast megalopolis, signaling life-threatening travel and long-duration disruptions to commerce and public transit. Timing and impacts by region Mid-Atlantic (Sun 3 p.m.–Mon 6 a.m.): Snow breaks out mid-afternoon from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, quickly reaching 1–2 inch-per-hour rates after sunset. Northeast winds gusting 50–60 mph will create whiteouts on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. New York City tri-state (Sun 7 p.m.–Mon noon): Peak snowfall arrives overnight with thundersnow possible. JFK, LGA and EWR have pre-emptively canceled more than 1,200 flights, and all three area airports may close runways during the worst visibility. Southern New England (Mon 2 a.m.–Mon 8 p.m.): The storm’s comma-head stalls near Cape Cod Monday morning, prolonging heavy bands over Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts. Coastal flooding of 2–4 feet above astronomical tide can inundate Route 1A and low-lying neighborhoods from Narragansett Bay to Boston Harbor. Power and infrastructure Wet snow clinging to leafless hardwoods combined with tropical-storm-force gusts will snap branches and bring down distribution lines. Utilities across eight states have secured mutual-aid crews, warning that restoration could take several days in hard-hit coastal counties. Residents should charge devices, stock non-perishable food and be ready for extended outages. Commuter advisories • Avoid travel tonight through Monday afternoon; if you must drive, keep an emergency kit, full tank and extra winter clothing. • Amtrak has suspended service between Washington and Boston after 6 p.m. Sunday; most regional rail agencies will operate “severe weather” schedules with potential last-minute suspensions. • Check airport status frequently and rebook early; waiver codes are in place for major carriers. Looking ahead The nor’easter exits into Atlantic Canada late Monday, but strong northwest winds will keep wind-chill values in the single digits Tuesday morning. A brief thaw on Wednesday precedes another clipper system by Thursday—reinforcing the National Weather Service message that winter is far from over. Stay tuned to your local NWS forecast office, NOAA Weather Radio and trusted media outlets for real-time updates as conditions evolve.