Historic Northeast Snowstorm Leaves Chaos, Deaths, and Power Outages in Its Wake
A massive weather event has left parts of the Northeast struggling to recover. Heavy snowfall, exceeding three feet in some areas, caused widespread disruptions—from power outages to dangerous travel conditions. While New York City began returning to normal, other regions faced ongoing challenges.
The storm struck on Monday, dumping historic amounts of snow across the region. Rhode Island saw over three feet, surpassing the Blizzard of 1978's record. Nearly one metre of snow buried parts of the state, leaving hundreds of thousands without power. By Wednesday, around 160,000 customers in Massachusetts remained in the dark, though Cape Cod expected full restoration by Friday.
In Rhode Island, many residents endured a third day trapped indoors as residential streets stayed unplowed. A tragic incident occurred in Newport, where a 21-year-old student died from carbon monoxide poisoning after snow blocked his car's exhaust pipe. Meanwhile, New York City deployed 3,500 emergency shovelers and spread 143 million pounds of salt to clear roads and bus stops.
Rising temperatures by mid-morning turned much of the snow to slush, creating slippery conditions. Light snow continued falling on Wednesday, adding another one to three inches in places. Schools in New York reopened, but in Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts, closures or virtual learning persisted.
The storm's sheer scale was staggering—it held 2.5 trillion gallons of water, enough to fill the Empire State Building over 9,000 times. Yet, in New York, uncleared sidewalks left some feeling stranded, particularly those with disabilities.
Recovery efforts are underway, but challenges remain across the Northeast. Power crews work to restore electricity, while cities clear snow and slush from streets. The storm's impact, from school closures to tragic losses, will take time to fully address.
