A powerful nor'easter is expected to intensify into a "bomb cyclone" this weekend, bringing blizzard conditions, heavy snow, and damaging winds from the mid-Atlantic to New England.
Blizzard warnings have been issued across the East Coast from Virginia to New Hampshire, including all five boroughs of New York City.
You can track Winter Storm Hernando's movementshere. We're recommending that anyone in the region avoid travel, as dangerous road conditions are expected through Monday. As snow piles up and winds rise, power outages and flight cancellations are expected.
We'll be bringing you live updates of the storm as they happen, covering every angle of this storm.
(03:00 p.m. EST) And Here ... We ... Go
Hey all, this is managing editor Sean Breslin here to take you the rest of the way this evening. We're starting to see the snow picking up in intensity in the Northeast, just as expected. It'll be one devil of a storm before the night is over, and it will persist into tomorrow. Here's an early look at Somerset County, New Jersey:
Our top snow total so far: 6 inches near Wintergreen, Virginia.
(02:50 p.m. EST) Snow Piles Still Persist From Last Winter Storm
As New Yorkers brace for what could be 20 inches of snow from Winter Storm Hernando, massive snow piles still persist from the last major winter storm only a few weeks ago.
(02:35 p.m. EST) Massachusetts Declares State Of Emergency
Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts has declared astate of emergency, including "activation of up to 200 Massachusetts National Guard members to support storm response operations."
(02:15 p.m. EST) Shovel Smart, Not Hard
From Content Writer Toby Adeyemi
A quick reminder for snow shovelers out there:
Push, don't lift. Slide snow to the side instead of picking it up, this will save your back and your energy. Bend with your knees, not your back. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, back straight, and let your legs do the work. Don't twist your body. Move your feet to face where you're tossing the snow, twisting is how people get hurt. Go light. Only fill the shovel halfway, especially if it's wet or packed. Shovel often. Clear snow early and frequently before it gets heavy or icy. Clear around fire hydrants. Keep a 3-foot radius open so emergency crews can access them fast if needed.
(01:45 p.m. EST) Transit To Halt In New Jersey
New Jersey Transit has announced that bus and light rail service will be halted at 6 p.m. tonight.
(01:20 p.m. EST) Delays Mount At Airports Along The East Coast
We began the day with hundreds of flight cancellations at each of the New York City area airports and now delays are beginning to mount along the East Coast. More than 15,000 delayed flights have already been reported today across the country. Expect that number to continue to rise as gridlock begins to cascade across airports.
Some travelers, like this one below at LaGuardia Airport, are settling in for a long wait.
(12:54 p.m. EST) NYC Announces Travel Ban
A travel ban will go into effect at 9 p.m. tonight in New York City, with all roads and bridges closed to non-essential traffic.
(12:48 p.m. EST) Cutting It Close
As Winter Storm Hernando slowly inches toward the coast, shoppers at a hardware store in Quincy, Massachusetts were seen picking up last minute essentials this morning, including snowblower fuel, rock salt, and this snow shovel. If you still need supplies before this blizzard, there isn't much time left.
(12:22 p.m. EST) Schools, Broadway Announce Cancellations In New York
Closures and cancellations are just beginning to roll in across New York City. All Broadway performances at 6 p.m. have been cancelled ina joint announcementAfter a small delay, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also announced that public schools will be closed on Monday.
(11:55 a.m. EST) How To Save On Heating During A Blizzard
From content writer Toby Adeyemi
During Winter and especially during Blizzards, people tend to see an uptick in their energy bills. Here's how to save some coins during the winter months
Don't ignore your heating system!
Get the maintenance done, it'll save you in the long run! Change air filters regularly, clear vents of dust, and schedule a professional tune-up.
Close the doors and vents
Keeps warm air circulating in the spaces you actually live in
Smart Thermostat = Smart Heating
Program your thermostat to lower while you're asleep or away, then warm up before you return.
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(11:25 a.m. EST) New York City Hiring Locals To Shovel Snow
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford
New York City has had its fair share of snowstorms, and they have a creative idea to help keep the city from completely shutting down.
They are offering people part-time jobs paying 19 dollars an hour to help shovel snow.
(10:53 a.m. EST) Grocery Lines Stretch Down City Blocks
New Yorkers were lining up for groceries early on Saturday morning to gather supplies and prepare for the blizzard.
(10:21 a.m. EST) Boston Facing Historic, Destructive Winds
It isn't all just snow. The NWS forecast for Boston includes some extremely dangerous wind gusts, potentially reaching as high as 70 mph.
(09:55 a.m. EST) Snowfall Forecast To Reach Between 16 And 24 Inches
The latest snowfall forecast from the National Weather Service includes some eye-popping totals, including 20 inches in New York City.
(09:30 a.m. EST) Things To Do For Your Car Before Going Outside In A Blizzard
If you absolutely have to get in your car during blizzard conditions, don't forget these essential safety tips.
Check your lights. Test headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and flashers because visibility will be low. Top off windshield wiper fluid. Use winter-grade fluid with de-icer and replace worn blades. Check your coolant. Make sure it's full and meets manufacturer specs. Stock an emergency kit. Pack a snow shovel, ice scraper, sand or kitty litter for traction, jumper cables, flashlight, flares, first aid kit, and blankets. Keep your tank full. For gas vehicles, stay near full; for electric/hybrid, keep your battery charged so you're not stranded.
(09:05 a.m. EST) Sanitation Workers Outfit Garbage Trucks With Plows, Chains
New York City Department of Sanitation workers were up late last night outfitting garbage trucks with tire chains and snow plows in preparation for Winter Storm Hernando.
(08:50 a.m. EST) National Weather Service Predicts Extreme Impacts
It doesn't get higher than that folks. As the NWS is warning, we're expecting "widespread disruptions to daily life" as this storm passes through.
(08:35 a.m. EST) Timing of Snowfall For Major Northeast Cities
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford
For New York City and Philadelphia, the heaviest snowfall is expected through the overnight hours. Snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour and winds could gust to 55 mph.
For Boston, the heaviest snowfall is expected through the day on Monday, specifically between 5 am and 4 pm. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour are possible with some areas potentially seeing snowfall up to 3 inches per hour.
(08:05 a.m. EST) Rhode Island Expecting Biggest Snowfall Of The Season
From Content Writer Toby Adeyemi
Rhode Island is about to catch its biggest snowstorm of the season. A winter storm watch is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday morning, with Providence potentially seeing 15 inches of snow. Rhode Island has been warned to expect possible blizzard conditions, total accumulations between 14 and 18 inches, and wind gusts up to 55 mph. The snow's expected to be wet and heavy, so power outages are definitely on the table. Right now's the time to lock in your prep.
(07:42 a.m. EST) Flight Cancellations
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford and Wyatt Williams
Flight delays and cancellations will be a major issue as Winter Storm Hernando moves up the East Coast. As of this morning, New York City leads the way with more than 60% of flights into JFK and Laguardia airports already canceled for the day. Boston Logan International, Philadelphia International and Ronald Regean National in D.C. are also seeing hundreds of flight cancellations.
So far, delays have yet to stack up, but we expect to see major issues as the day goes on. We'll update you when we know more.
(07:05 a.m. EST) What Is A Blizzard?
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford
A blizzard is defined as meeting the following criteria:
Blowing and/or falling snow
Winds at least 35 mph
Reduction of visibility to quarter mile or less
These conditions last at least 3 hours
Blizzard warnings are in place for New York City from Sunday morning to Monday morning. Snowfall totals over a foot and winds gusting to 55 mph will cause major impacts on commutes.
(07:15 a.m. EST) It Has Been A Snowy Winter
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford
If you are wondering if this winter has been snowier than average, you would be correct. Some major metropolitan areas have seen above-average snowfall this year and crushed last years snowfall.
The most impressive is Boston, which has seen over 40 inches of snowfall this year so far. That is more than 8 inches above average and greatly tops last year's 28.1 inches.
New York City is also above average this year with a snowfall total of 22.3 inches. They only saw 12.9 inches all of last winter, so it looks like the city will double their snowfall from last year.
