Post by : Maya Rahman

On Tuesday, the Northeast faced its first major snowstorm of the winter season, unleashing heavy snowfall, brisk winds, and treacherous roads from Pennsylvania to Maine. In contrast, the Midwest has started to recover from a post-Thanksgiving freeze. Winter storm warnings and advisories were issued across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, and New York, with snow beginning to accumulate before dawn. In northern New England, up to 10 inches of snow was anticipated, with meteorologists warning of a mix of rain and rapidly accumulating snow in some locales.

This storm followed a record-breaking weekend in which Chicago O’Hare airport recorded over 8 inches of snow, the highest single-day November total since 1951. While snow events in the Great Lakes area subsided, this new storm system intensified as it moved eastward, suggesting potential snowfall of up to a foot for parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Orrison emphasized that this represents the first major snow of the season for many regions, triggering hundreds of flight delays.

Meteorologists clarified that winter, spanning December to February, is established for consistent climate tracking and does not align with the astronomical winter recognized by calendars.

Coastal Maine was placed under storm warnings starting Tuesday morning and continuing into Wednesday. The National Weather Service urged residents to postpone travel where possible. Numerous schools and government entities across the Northeast opted to close in light of the early snowfall. New York’s upstate area saw many school districts cancel classes due to expectations of six or more inches of snow. New Hampshire even kicked off its second annual “name-a-plow” contest, a fun initiative to engage the community during the storm.

Travel conditions were particularly hazardous in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Active winter weather advisories remained in place across Ohio, where some southern counties saw 3 to 5 inches of snow. Dangerous slick conditions led to multiple accidents, including a section of I-70 west of Cleveland that had to be closed temporarily. Visibility was severely limited around Columbus.

In Pennsylvania, preparations for snow cleanup were underway as early Tuesday brought a blanket of snow covering the state, hampering traffic on Interstate 78 and other major routes. Workers commenced treating the extensive Pennsylvania Turnpike system before sunrise, applying restrictions on several eastern interstates. Over 600 personnel were deployed to maintain the 2,900 miles of Turnpike lanes. Agency spokesperson Marissa Orbanek remarked, “We really prepare for snow all year long.”

The storm initially originated as a weaker system over the central U.S., gaining strength as it approached coastal waters. Ashton Robinson Cook from the NWS Weather Prediction Center noted that such snowstorms are rare yet not entirely unforeseen. Additionally, forecasters alerted regions that another winter storm might impact the mid-Atlantic on Friday and Saturday, prolonging the season’s first taste of wintry weather.

This early-season snowstorm is creating widespread disruptions in travel, flight schedules, school activities, and hazardous road conditions across the Northeast. Residents are urged to prioritize safety, minimize travel, and heed local weather advisories as winter weather persists.

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