Prayer in a Blizzard. Just praying. #StellaBlizzard #blizzard2017 https://t.co/tEirvHVsKi pic.twitter.com/dhQ1y8VOn1
— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) March 13, 2017
A National Weather Service (NWS) travel warning has been issued, predicting record-low temperatures beginning Monday evening. Travel in and out of New York has been declared &"extremely dangerous" due to what are expected to be whiteout conditions and 60-mph winds.
Bad will soon get worse on Lake Ontario. A foot of snow is on the way for parts of #WNY @spann @JimCantore @StormHour @News_8 @WizardWeather pic.twitter.com/Bnq2Fyp6Zv
— John Kucko (@john_kucko) March 13, 2017
"Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in an emergency. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency," said the NWS. Over 5,000 flights have been canceled according to FlightAware, with the hardest-hit airports being Newark, Logan, JFK, BWI, and Philadelphia.
NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES SHUTTING DOWN: 1,200 flights cancelled ahead of major snowstorm https://t.co/Al0AqGiao5 pic.twitter.com/XH1KplOzae
— SuperStation95 (@SuperStation95) March 13, 2017
That the storm is coming relatively late in the season is causing concern that it could interfere with plants waking up from winter stasis. The National Weather Service has warned that cold air in South Carolina could kill 90 percent of the peach crop in some areas.
Retweeted Steve Fainer (@SteveFainer):
— Greg Jobeless (@gregjobe95) March 13, 2017
Only in Massachusetts. #blizzard2017 #StellaBlizzard pic.twitter.com/5yJ5U9WMdT https://t.co/uoKZ6iT6o5
The storm is a classic nor'easter, a cyclone which draws its name from the Northeastern United States areas in which they ordinarily make landfall. Nor'easters are formed when warm Gulf Stream air meets cold air traveling south from Canada. This nor'easter is the third of the season, with two others occurring in rapid succession in February.
The tracks of the Duquesne Incline in #Pittsburgh look vertical in this view from straight across the Ohio River after a fresh snowfall pic.twitter.com/AvGtyowG9M
— Dave DiCello (@DaveDiCello) March 12, 2017
March nor'easters are not uncommon. The Great Blizzard of 1888 killed around 400 in the region and the 1993 Storm of the Century dropped snow across the entire East Coast, killing 318 people in the US and Cuba. However, this will be the first blizzard predicted to drop over a foot of snow in Manhattan in March since 1960, and only the fifth on record.
Anniversary of deadly Blizzard of 1888 https://t.co/tfK9JqPGfb pic.twitter.com/KZDDXcpNfS
— Poughkeepsie Journal (@PokJournal) March 13, 2017
The 1888 blizzard dropped 21 inches of snow on New York City, a record for the month of March that has yet to be broken. The 2017 storm is not expected to break that record, as most projections have 12-18 inches of snow falling in the city.
Blizzard warning for NYC, NE NJ, Nassau County & coastal CT. Stay safe folks and make sure pets are inside & warm too! #dogs #blizzard2017 pic.twitter.com/GPAGaweI1G
— PetBarrier (@pet_barrier) March 13, 2017
Residents of New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine are advised to be prepared with emergency supplies, as a foot or more of snow is expected throughout the Interstate 95 corridor. Those farther south, such as Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Washington DC should be braced for rain and sleet, as well as an undetermined amount of snow.
