More than a foot of snow fell over northeastern parts of the US as a powerful, fast-moving storm swept across the area.
Parts of New York City and New England saw heavy snow and winds of up to 60mph as the storm – named the Nor’easter – arrived on Tuesday morning.
As of midday, the storm had left numerous spots with more than a foot of snow, including Farmington in Connecticut and Sussex in New Jersey, where snow measured more than 15 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
People clear a pavement during a winter snow storm in Philadelphia. Pic: AP/Matt Rourke
Pic: AP/Steven Senne
The severe weather led to more than 1,000 flights being delayed from airports in New York and Boston.
More than 440 car accidents have been attended by New Jersey police, Sky News US partner network, NBC, reported.
Snow covers the windows of a plane that sits at a gate at John F Kennedy International Airport. Pic: AP/Frank Franklin II
In Pennsylvania, a 20-year-old man died in a snowmobile crash after the machine collided with a downed power line.
Police said at the time, the central Pennsylvania area was experiencing a “multitude of weather-related conditions due to a winter storm which caused downed trees, downed power lines and hazardous travel conditions”.
In the state alone, 145,000 power outages were reported.
A plough works to clear snow during a winter storm in Doylestown. Pic:AP/Matt Rourke
Many schools either closed or switched to remote learning, while in Massachusetts, flower deliveries in preparation for Valentine’s Day were cancelled.
Pic: AP/Matt Rourke
“It’s the day before Valentine’s Day and I had to tell my customers we can’t do it,” florist Robin Metivier said, adding: “We’re tough New Englanders, but the flowers can’t take the cold.”
The storm marks the end of nearly a two-year-long “snow drought” in New York, which sparked concerns about global warming.
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Pic: John Haeger/Standard-Speaker
On Tuesday more than 2,000 snowplough trucks were working to salt and clear streets, city officials said, while a travel advisory was issued to citizens.
“In a storm like this, with so much snow coming fast, we have to go back to the same locations over and over, to keep it clear and safe,” Jan Gautam, the head of the Manhattan-based snow removal company, Novus Maintenance, said.
Pic:AP/Frank Franklin II
Below freezing temperatures are expected in New York overnight, according to the city’s official emergency notification system.
“Melting snow & standing water on area roadways may become icy. Use extra caution if travelling this evening through Wednesday morning,” the system wrote on X.