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| ‘Bomb Cyclone’ Swirls Northward on East Coast, Bringing Snow and Bitter Cold | ‘Bomb Cyclone’ Swirls Northward on East Coast, Bringing Snow and Bitter Cold |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A wintry pummeling of snow, bitter cold and strong winds was battering the East Coast on Thursday as a powerful storm system that dumped ice, sleet and snow on the South curled toward the Northeast. | A wintry pummeling of snow, bitter cold and strong winds was battering the East Coast on Thursday as a powerful storm system that dumped ice, sleet and snow on the South curled toward the Northeast. |
| Snow plows and salt trucks are rumbling down streets, schools and offices are closed, thousands of flights have been canceled and homeless shelters are crammed. The storm, which some meteorologists classified as a “bomb cyclone” for its sharp drop in atmospheric pressure, has paralyzed much of the East. | Snow plows and salt trucks are rumbling down streets, schools and offices are closed, thousands of flights have been canceled and homeless shelters are crammed. The storm, which some meteorologists classified as a “bomb cyclone” for its sharp drop in atmospheric pressure, has paralyzed much of the East. |
| Here’s the latest: | Here’s the latest: |
| • Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York on Thursday morning declared a state of emergency for the southern part of the state, including Westchester County, New York City and Long Island. Other governors or local leaders have declared emergencies and blizzard warnings were in effect in Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Virginia. | • Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York on Thursday morning declared a state of emergency for the southern part of the state, including Westchester County, New York City and Long Island. Other governors or local leaders have declared emergencies and blizzard warnings were in effect in Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Virginia. |
| • The National Weather Service said Atlantic City, N.J., could record up to 18 inches of snow, and Delaware beach towns were facing the prospect of a foot of snow. | • The National Weather Service said Atlantic City, N.J., could record up to 18 inches of snow, and Delaware beach towns were facing the prospect of a foot of snow. |
| • Most of New York City was forecast to receive five to eight inches of snowfall, although Queens, and neighboring Nassau County, could get up to 10 inches, forecasters said. Read more from our reporters spread across the region here. And New York Today is keeping track of the latest on travel conditions and school closures here. | • Most of New York City was forecast to receive five to eight inches of snowfall, although Queens, and neighboring Nassau County, could get up to 10 inches, forecasters said. Read more from our reporters spread across the region here. And New York Today is keeping track of the latest on travel conditions and school closures here. |
| • The storm also shut down schools in Baltimore; Boston; Newark; New York; Philadelphia; Providence, R.I.; Virginia Beach; and Washington, among other places. Classes were also canceled in areas in the South that had seen snowfall and anticipated days of bitter cold. Some districts in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina closed schools for Thursday. | • The storm also shut down schools in Baltimore; Boston; Newark; New York; Philadelphia; Providence, R.I.; Virginia Beach; and Washington, among other places. Classes were also canceled in areas in the South that had seen snowfall and anticipated days of bitter cold. Some districts in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina closed schools for Thursday. |
| • The storm’s race up the East Coast — through some of the busiest air traffic corridors in the country — prompted airlines to cancel nearly 3,000 flights by early Thursday morning, according to FlightAware, an aviation tracking website. Nationwide, airlines have already scratched plans for more than 150 flights on Friday. | • The storm’s race up the East Coast — through some of the busiest air traffic corridors in the country — prompted airlines to cancel nearly 3,000 flights by early Thursday morning, according to FlightAware, an aviation tracking website. Nationwide, airlines have already scratched plans for more than 150 flights on Friday. |
| • Tens of thousands of customers, mostly in Virginia, were without power on Thursday morning, and even in places where electricity was mostly flowing, officials feared the consequences of frigid temperatures that will linger for days. | • Tens of thousands of customers, mostly in Virginia, were without power on Thursday morning, and even in places where electricity was mostly flowing, officials feared the consequences of frigid temperatures that will linger for days. |
| • With heating units in homes and commercial buildings running furiously to fend off the deep freeze, power companies have warned of possible fuel shortages to come. Read more here. | • With heating units in homes and commercial buildings running furiously to fend off the deep freeze, power companies have warned of possible fuel shortages to come. Read more here. |
| • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. | • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. |
| The Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, with heavy snowfall and wind chills as low as minus 25 degrees expected. | The Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, with heavy snowfall and wind chills as low as minus 25 degrees expected. |
| Roads remained open in New York, but state officials imposed speed restrictions on some crossings and banned trucks on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge because of high winds. | Roads remained open in New York, but state officials imposed speed restrictions on some crossings and banned trucks on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge because of high winds. |
| Mr. Cuomo said road conditions on Long Island were deteriorating and some cars had been stranded on the Long Island Expressway overnight, creating a “significant issue of public safety.” | Mr. Cuomo said road conditions on Long Island were deteriorating and some cars had been stranded on the Long Island Expressway overnight, creating a “significant issue of public safety.” |
| On Wednesday, Kathryn Garcia, the commissioner of the Department of Sanitation in New York City, encouraged New Yorkers to avoid driving and use mass transit instead. | On Wednesday, Kathryn Garcia, the commissioner of the Department of Sanitation in New York City, encouraged New Yorkers to avoid driving and use mass transit instead. |
| Chilly gusts of up to 50 miles per hour are likely to whip eastern Long Island and southeastern Connecticut starting late Thursday morning, with the potential for downed tree limbs and scattered power failures, the National Weather Service said. | Chilly gusts of up to 50 miles per hour are likely to whip eastern Long Island and southeastern Connecticut starting late Thursday morning, with the potential for downed tree limbs and scattered power failures, the National Weather Service said. |
| Amtrak was operating a reduced schedule on its Acela and Northeast Regional services between Washington and New York. The rail service also said it had canceled trains between Washington and Newport News, Va., and had modified its schedule between Springfield, Mass., and New Haven. | Amtrak was operating a reduced schedule on its Acela and Northeast Regional services between Washington and New York. The rail service also said it had canceled trains between Washington and Newport News, Va., and had modified its schedule between Springfield, Mass., and New Haven. |
| With thousands of flights canceled, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest and United were among the major carriers that said passengers could change certain travel plans without penalties. | With thousands of flights canceled, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest and United were among the major carriers that said passengers could change certain travel plans without penalties. |
| In the Washington area, the federal government delayed opening offices on Thursday morning as slush and slick roads complicated the commute. | |
| The Office of Personnel Management, essentially the federal government’s human resources department, said that nonemergency workers could report two hours late, work remotely, or take an unscheduled leave. | The Office of Personnel Management, essentially the federal government’s human resources department, said that nonemergency workers could report two hours late, work remotely, or take an unscheduled leave. |
| The National Weather Service predicted a Thursday high of 28 degrees for Washington, with winds gusting to 40 m.p.h. Temperatures are not expected to reach the 40s — maybe — until Monday. | The National Weather Service predicted a Thursday high of 28 degrees for Washington, with winds gusting to 40 m.p.h. Temperatures are not expected to reach the 40s — maybe — until Monday. |
| The first plows were out before 6 a.m. in Asbury Park, N.J., scraping at pavement in a cloud of wind-whipped snow that funneled horizontally down Ocean Avenue and the Boardwalk like a powdery fog, making a blurry watercolor of the waterfront and its street lamps. | The first plows were out before 6 a.m. in Asbury Park, N.J., scraping at pavement in a cloud of wind-whipped snow that funneled horizontally down Ocean Avenue and the Boardwalk like a powdery fog, making a blurry watercolor of the waterfront and its street lamps. |
| Michelle Ramos insisted on driving her husband, Rogelio Perez, to his job in nearby Wall Township at Fire Hooks Unlimited, a small manufacturer and distributor of firefighter and emergency services supplies. | Michelle Ramos insisted on driving her husband, Rogelio Perez, to his job in nearby Wall Township at Fire Hooks Unlimited, a small manufacturer and distributor of firefighter and emergency services supplies. |
| “He can’t stay home; he’ll drive me crazy,” Ms. Ramos, 46, said on her way back to Asbury Park at around 7 a.m., stopping at a QuickChek convenience store on Main Street in Bradley Beach to pick up coffee, bread and a few other staples. | “He can’t stay home; he’ll drive me crazy,” Ms. Ramos, 46, said on her way back to Asbury Park at around 7 a.m., stopping at a QuickChek convenience store on Main Street in Bradley Beach to pick up coffee, bread and a few other staples. |
| Ms. Ramos, describing herself as both “the driver” and “the head of the household,” was preparing to spend the rest of Thursday at home with her children and grandchildren, a group of six ranging in age from 2 to 28. She planned to clean up around the house a bit, and make a pot of stewed chicken and rice. | Ms. Ramos, describing herself as both “the driver” and “the head of the household,” was preparing to spend the rest of Thursday at home with her children and grandchildren, a group of six ranging in age from 2 to 28. She planned to clean up around the house a bit, and make a pot of stewed chicken and rice. |
| Ms. Ramons said that whether or not her husband’s workplace was open today, “He would have to show up, because if not he won’t get paid for the day.” | Ms. Ramons said that whether or not her husband’s workplace was open today, “He would have to show up, because if not he won’t get paid for the day.” |
| She added that he was on his own for the ride back. “He can get home whenever,” Ms. Ramos quipped. | She added that he was on his own for the ride back. “He can get home whenever,” Ms. Ramos quipped. |
| The Boston Common was almost silent on Thursday as it began to fill with snow, enveloped in a white haze interrupted only by the odd spray of Christmas lights or a solitary silhouette walking through the park. Ten to 16 inches of snow were forecast during the day, with another 1 to 3 inches possible in the evening. The city’s streets were largely empty, too, suggesting many drivers had heeded Gov. Charlie Baker’s advice to stay off the roads and work from home if they could. | The Boston Common was almost silent on Thursday as it began to fill with snow, enveloped in a white haze interrupted only by the odd spray of Christmas lights or a solitary silhouette walking through the park. Ten to 16 inches of snow were forecast during the day, with another 1 to 3 inches possible in the evening. The city’s streets were largely empty, too, suggesting many drivers had heeded Gov. Charlie Baker’s advice to stay off the roads and work from home if they could. |
| But some workers here did not have that option, despite the authorities’ dire warnings. Bitalina Diaz, 38, rode the Orange Line toward her job cleaning offices in downtown Boston, with her pants tucked into her boots and her hood up to buffet the effects of the chilly wind. She had packed extra gloves in her backpack and had candles at home, in case the power was out when she got home after her shift ends around 10 p.m. | But some workers here did not have that option, despite the authorities’ dire warnings. Bitalina Diaz, 38, rode the Orange Line toward her job cleaning offices in downtown Boston, with her pants tucked into her boots and her hood up to buffet the effects of the chilly wind. She had packed extra gloves in her backpack and had candles at home, in case the power was out when she got home after her shift ends around 10 p.m. |
| “I hope I can get a train back,” Ms. Diaz said. “I don’t know what happens — it’s a lot of snow.” | “I hope I can get a train back,” Ms. Diaz said. “I don’t know what happens — it’s a lot of snow.” |
| Elizabeth Fletcher, 29, a research scientist, was also riding the train toward her job at Tufts Medical Center. “My boss asked me to,” Ms. Fletcher said, with a shrug, adding that the day’s forecast high, of 31 degrees, was welcome relief after a string of much colder days. | Elizabeth Fletcher, 29, a research scientist, was also riding the train toward her job at Tufts Medical Center. “My boss asked me to,” Ms. Fletcher said, with a shrug, adding that the day’s forecast high, of 31 degrees, was welcome relief after a string of much colder days. |
| “I was at the station going, ‘Oh, I can get used to this,’” said Ms. Fletcher, who is originally from Melbourne, Australia, and said she was excited about the snow. “Everyone thinks I’m crazy, but it’s snow in the city.” | “I was at the station going, ‘Oh, I can get used to this,’” said Ms. Fletcher, who is originally from Melbourne, Australia, and said she was excited about the snow. “Everyone thinks I’m crazy, but it’s snow in the city.” |
| The storm will follow a long period of deep cold that has already taxed transit systems, fuel supplies and homeless shelters in the region. | The storm will follow a long period of deep cold that has already taxed transit systems, fuel supplies and homeless shelters in the region. |
| The National Weather Service said cities along the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay could log about a foot of snow, and the Virginia Department of Transportation said more than 600 roads had been affected by conditions. | |
| “Virginians should keep a close watch on the local weather forecast and stay off roads during this weather event unless travel is absolutely necessary,” the governor’s office said in a statement on Thursday, one day after Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared an emergency for the commonwealth. | |
| The Port of Virginia was closed to inbound and outbound traffic, and rail and air services were canceled or delayed. The state said National Guard troops were on standby to help move emergency officials through deep snow in the Hampton Roads region, which includes Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach and is home to more than 1.7 million people. | |
| The area is not expected to inch above freezing temperatures until Sunday — and even then, the high will only be 33 degrees, according to the Weather Service. | |
| Temperatures are expected to dip into the single digits on Thursday night, and wind chills could hit -7. | |
| When discussing the storm, some weather forecasters have referred to a “bomb cyclone.” Calling it a bomb sounds dire, but such storms are not exceedingly rare — there was one in New England recently. | When discussing the storm, some weather forecasters have referred to a “bomb cyclone.” Calling it a bomb sounds dire, but such storms are not exceedingly rare — there was one in New England recently. |
| What makes a storm a bomb is how fast the atmospheric pressure falls; falling atmospheric pressure is a characteristic of all storms. By definition, the barometric pressure must drop by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours for a storm to be called a bomb cyclone; the formation of such a storm is called bombogenesis. | What makes a storm a bomb is how fast the atmospheric pressure falls; falling atmospheric pressure is a characteristic of all storms. By definition, the barometric pressure must drop by at least 24 millibars in 24 hours for a storm to be called a bomb cyclone; the formation of such a storm is called bombogenesis. |
| Here is how it works: Deep drops in barometric pressure occur when a region of warm air meets one of cold air. The air starts to move, and the rotation of the Earth creates a cyclonic effect. The direction is counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (when viewed from above), leading to winds that come out of the northeast — a nor’easter. | Here is how it works: Deep drops in barometric pressure occur when a region of warm air meets one of cold air. The air starts to move, and the rotation of the Earth creates a cyclonic effect. The direction is counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (when viewed from above), leading to winds that come out of the northeast — a nor’easter. |
| That’s what happened at the end of October, when warm air from the remnants of a tropical cyclone over the Atlantic collided with a cold front coming from the Midwest. Among other effects then, more than 80,000 customers in Maine lost power as high winds toppled trees. | That’s what happened at the end of October, when warm air from the remnants of a tropical cyclone over the Atlantic collided with a cold front coming from the Midwest. Among other effects then, more than 80,000 customers in Maine lost power as high winds toppled trees. |
| A similar effect was occurring Wednesday, as warm air over the ocean met extremely cold polar air that had descended over the East. Pressure was expected to fall quickly from Florida northward. | A similar effect was occurring Wednesday, as warm air over the ocean met extremely cold polar air that had descended over the East. Pressure was expected to fall quickly from Florida northward. |
| Some scientists studying the connection between climate change and cold spells, which occur when cold Arctic air dips south, say that they may be related. But the importance of the relationship is not fully clear yet. | Some scientists studying the connection between climate change and cold spells, which occur when cold Arctic air dips south, say that they may be related. But the importance of the relationship is not fully clear yet. |
| The Arctic is not as cold as it used to be — the region is warming faster than any other — and studies suggest that this warming is weakening the jet stream, which ordinarily acts like a giant lasso, corralling cold air around the pole. | The Arctic is not as cold as it used to be — the region is warming faster than any other — and studies suggest that this warming is weakening the jet stream, which ordinarily acts like a giant lasso, corralling cold air around the pole. |
| The reason a direct connection between cold weather and global warming is still up for debate, scientists say, is that there are many other factors involved. Ocean temperatures in the tropics, soil moisture, snow cover, even the long-term natural variability of large ocean systems all can influence the jet stream. Read more here. | The reason a direct connection between cold weather and global warming is still up for debate, scientists say, is that there are many other factors involved. Ocean temperatures in the tropics, soil moisture, snow cover, even the long-term natural variability of large ocean systems all can influence the jet stream. Read more here. |