British tourists heading across the Atlantic were warned to expect travel chaos as ‘thundersnow’ hit the US east coast leading to more than 2,500 flights within, into, or out of the country being cancelled.
The Northeast was hit with a monster snow storm that started yesterday morning, threatening 60 million people from Philadelphia to Boston.
It is expected to dump up to two feet of snow in some areas of New England throughout the day. By late Wednesday in New York, the area had already seen more than 14 inches of snow.
A woman walks her dog as snow falls in New York, where more than 2,000 flights were cancelled as the northeast United States braces for more heavy snowfall
A man looks at a branch that fell from heavy snow and landed on his friend’s truck on March 7, 2018 in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The winter weather has brought a combination of heavy snow or driving rain
The system is even causing rare instances of thundersnow in some areas – including New York City – which is still recovering from another nor’easter that hit last week, with many still without power.
More than 1,800 of the flights cancelled were either flying into or out of the three major New York/New Jersey airports, with Newark and LaGuardia both at 650 plus and JFK more than 500.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, which oversees JFK, LaGuardia and Newark urged travelers to contact their airlines before heading to the airport.
Further north, Boston Logan International was dealing with more than 300 cancellations while Philadelphia was past 200.
The weather is expected to take a turn for the worse as the week progresses
The weather in New York has not been at its most welcoming for either local people or overseas visitors
Road conditions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, remain hazardous with no break in the winter weather
A man struggles in the wind beneath a plastic bag as he walks during a snowstorm in upper Manhattan in New York City, New York, on Wednesday
Several airlines are waiving change fees for the storm. Major airports included in the waivers included the three New York airports, Boston, Philadelphia, Hartford and Providence.
The disruption is expected to get worse this week as America braces itself for another blast of wintry mix of snow and rain along its East Coast as yet another nor’easter pummels the region.
Winter Storm Quinn is expected to drop more than a foot of snow in parts of New England between now and the end of the week.
Pennsylvania’s Poconos Mountains and parts of Massachusetts could see up to 18 inches, while parts of Maine and New Hampshire could get two feet by Thursday.
The snowfall is expected to fall at one to three inches an hour in some places.
A ferry worker cleans the path for commuters during light snowfall while the New York skyline and the One World Trade Center are seen from Exchange Place in New Jersey, U.S., March 7, 2018 – ferries too are likely to be disrupted later this week
A man walks during a snowstorm in New York City, New York, U.S., March 7, 2018.
A woman walks through the snow in the financial district during a winter nor’easter in New York City, U.S., March 7, 2018
A woman holds an umbrella while standing next to two baby strollers outside of a deli in the snow on March 07, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. This is the second nor’easter to hit the area within a week and is expected to bring heavy snowfall and winds, raising fears of another round of electrical outages
The thundersnow phenomenon is expected to hit New York City and Philadelphia. Experts say the unusual phenomenon is caused by shallow layers of rising, unstable air.
British travellers going to the U.S can also expect to say some over land transport disruption.
Amtrak announced a modified Northeast Corridor service on Tuesday afternoon, affecting their Northeast Regional and Acela Express services; Amtrak Keystone (New York – Philadelphia – Harrisburg) and Amtrak Empire (New York to Albancy – Rensselaer) will also be modified.
NJ Transit announces that it was operating on a modified rail schedule on Wednesday. Bus and light rail services were scheduled to operate on a regular schedule as long as weather conditions permit.
But NJ Transit also warned buses to and from Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan could be suspended before afternoon rush hour due to snow projections.
New York City Transit, DeCamp Bus Lines and The Be Line system have warned to expect delays.
Turning to the roads, New York’s Governor Cuomo announced that all tractor trailers, tandem trailers, buses and box trucks would be restricted from several roads while the New York Thruway Authority has advised all motorists to avoid travel if possible.
Drivers in the area have been told to avoid being on the roads from 11am to 5pm in particular, when snow ploughs will struggle to keep roads cleared amid a combination of snowy roads and wind gusts of up to 40mph.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has alos advised drivers to stay off the roads. He declared a state of emergency on Tuesday afternoon. New Jersey State Police said they had responded to more than 50 crashes by Wednesday morning.
Pennsylvania has reduced speed limits to 45mph along many roads, including several Interstates.
Ferries have also be affected – NYC Ferry is suspended on all routes; while the Staten Island Ferry is on a modified schedule.