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Blizzard headed to Northeast

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:54:00 +0000

BOSTON (AP) -- A blizzard of potentially historic proportions threatened to strike the Northeast with a vengeance Friday, with 1 to 2 feet of snow forecast along the densely populated Interstate 95 corridor from the New York City area to Boston and beyond.

Halfway through what was looking like a merciful winter, people stocked up on food and other storm supplies, and road crews from Pennsylvania to Maine readied salt and sand ahead of what forecasters warned could be one for the record books.

Boston and Providence, R.I., called off school on Friday, and airlines canceled more than 500 flights and counting, with the disruptions certain to ripple across the U.S.

In Taunton, Mass., National Weather Service meteorologist Alan Dunham said southern New England has seen less than half its normal snowfall this season, but "we're going to catch up in a heck of a hurry," with 1 1/2 to 2 feet forecast.

"Everybody's going to get plastered with snow," he said.

The snow is expected to start Friday morning, with the heaviest amounts falling at night and into Saturday. Wind gusts could reach 65 mph. Widespread power failures were feared, along with flooding in coastal areas still recovering from Superstorm Sandy in October.

Sandy-torn Northeast deals with more wind, snow

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:32:00 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) -- The nor'easter that stymied recovery efforts from Superstorm Sandy pulled away from New York and New Jersey Thursday, leaving a blanket of thick, wet snow that snapped storm-weakened trees and downed power lines, but didn't appear to add much more to the devastation.

Households from Brooklyn to storm-battered sections of the Jersey shore and Connecticut that had waited for days without power because of Sandy were plunged back into darkness in temperatures near freezing.

"For a home without power, it's great," said Iliay Bardash, 61, a computer programmer on Staten Island without electricity since last week. "But things are not worse, and for that I am thankful."

In New Jersey, utilities reported 400,000 power outages early Thursday; 20,000 of those were new. In New York City and Westchester, more than 70,000 customers were without power after the storm knocked out an additional 55,000 customers.

There were 60,000 new outages on Long Island, where more than 300,000 customers were without power.

"It's just colder now," said Anthony Gragnano, who lives in Lindenhurst, N.Y. on Long Island in a hard-hit area. "We still don't have heat or power, but aside from a little snow, we're good."

FEMA disaster center shuttered “due to weather”

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:44:00 +0000

Despite the election distraction, many victims of Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey have not recovered. As of yesterday, in New York City 91,000 homes still have no power and residents in storm-battered areas like the Rockaways and Staten Island continue to rely on community relief efforts for hot meals, flashlights, blankets and other vital supplies. As these communities prepare to weather another harsh storm tonight and tomorrow -- a nor'easter's freezing temperatures, 60-mph winds, heavy rain and snow -- FEMA has reportedly closed its doors.

DNAinfo reports that the federal agency, which residents of the Rockaways and Staten Island say has already neglected them, had shuttered facilities Wednesday with signs reading "closed due to weather." "They fly into disaster areas, but flee from raindrops," commented DNA. A FEMA facility in Staten Island, which was helping victims register for disaster relief, as well as city food distribution centers, was empty as of Wednesday morning. DNA reported:

Good news for East Coast: Nor’easter to weaken

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:06:00 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) -- Weather experts had good news for beleaguered northeast coastal residents Tuesday: A new storm that threatened to complicate Hurricane Sandy cleanup efforts on Wednesday now looks like it will be weaker than expected.

As the storm moves up the Atlantic coast from Florida it now is expected to veer farther offshore than earlier projections had indicated. Jeff Masters of the private weather service Weather Underground says that means less wind and rainfall on land.

Even so, he said winds could still gust to 50 mph in New York and New Jersey Wednesday afternoon and evening.

And Lauren Nash, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, said wind gusts might blow down tree limbs weakened from Sandy and cause more power outages. On Wednesday night, gusts may occasionally reach 60 mph in coastal Connecticut and Long Island, she said.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie warned Tuesday that high winds may mean some residents who regained power will lose it again, and the wind could also slow efforts to restore power. There is "nothing we can do to stop the storms," he said.