By — Andrew Mach Andrew Mach Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/crippling-potentially-historic-blizzard-slam-northeast Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Crippling and ‘potentially historic’ blizzard to slam Northeast Nation Jan 25, 2015 6:28 PM EDT A crippling and potentially historic winter storm was approaching a large swath of the northeastern United States on Sunday, which officials and forecasters warned could dump up to three feet of snow, produce high winds and cause power outages and flight cancellations between Monday and Wednesday. Blizzard warnings and watches went in effect on Sunday morning for more than 29 million people in areas along the coast from central New Jersey to the Canadian border. The National Weather Service predicted the storm could be responsible for life-threatening conditions and extremely dangerous travel due to heavy snowfall and strong winds that could down power lines and tree limbs late Monday through Tuesday. 29 Million people under #Blizzard Warning: http://t.co/Encl3uyc2s | http://t.co/Zqhxk6AFlR pic.twitter.com/1zfP8PP3x6 — NWS (@NWS) January 25, 2015 In New York City, officials warned the storm could potentially bury the metropolitan area in up to three feet of snow. “Don’t underestimate this storm,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference. “We are facing most likely one of the largest snow storms in the history of this city.” The biggest one-day snowfall on record in New York City was 26.9 inches. “My message for New Yorkers is prepare for something worse than we have ever seen before,” de Blasio said. Gov. Cuomo urges New Yorkers to prepare for major snowstorm; More than 70 @NationalGuardNY members ready to respond http://t.co/o4v40bVehj — National Guard (@USNationalGuard) January 25, 2015 Mayor de Blasio and other city officials urged people not to drive in New York City on Monday and to expect the roads to be unsafe by the evening. The storm was also expected to snarl air traffic with flight cancellations and delays as major airports in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and other parts of New England expected to see disruptive snow totals. Nearly 600 flights had already been canceled and thousands more delayed by Sunday evening, as major airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and US Airways announced winter-weather waivers, which allow passengers to change their itinerary without paying a fee. By — Andrew Mach Andrew Mach Andrew Mach is a former Digital Editor for PBS NewsHour in New York City, where he manages the online editorial direction of the national broadcast's weekend edition. Formerly, Mach was a news editor and staff writer for NBC News. He's also written for the Christian Science Monitor in Boston and had stints at ABC News, the Washington Post and German network ZDF in Berlin, in addition to reporting for an investigative journalism project in Phoenix. Mach was a recipient of the 2016 Kiplinger Fellowship, the 2015 RIAS German/American Exchange fellowship by the Radio Television Digital News Foundation and the 2012 Berlin Capital Program Fulbright. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota. @andrewjmach
A crippling and potentially historic winter storm was approaching a large swath of the northeastern United States on Sunday, which officials and forecasters warned could dump up to three feet of snow, produce high winds and cause power outages and flight cancellations between Monday and Wednesday. Blizzard warnings and watches went in effect on Sunday morning for more than 29 million people in areas along the coast from central New Jersey to the Canadian border. The National Weather Service predicted the storm could be responsible for life-threatening conditions and extremely dangerous travel due to heavy snowfall and strong winds that could down power lines and tree limbs late Monday through Tuesday. 29 Million people under #Blizzard Warning: http://t.co/Encl3uyc2s | http://t.co/Zqhxk6AFlR pic.twitter.com/1zfP8PP3x6 — NWS (@NWS) January 25, 2015 In New York City, officials warned the storm could potentially bury the metropolitan area in up to three feet of snow. “Don’t underestimate this storm,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at a press conference. “We are facing most likely one of the largest snow storms in the history of this city.” The biggest one-day snowfall on record in New York City was 26.9 inches. “My message for New Yorkers is prepare for something worse than we have ever seen before,” de Blasio said. Gov. Cuomo urges New Yorkers to prepare for major snowstorm; More than 70 @NationalGuardNY members ready to respond http://t.co/o4v40bVehj — National Guard (@USNationalGuard) January 25, 2015 Mayor de Blasio and other city officials urged people not to drive in New York City on Monday and to expect the roads to be unsafe by the evening. The storm was also expected to snarl air traffic with flight cancellations and delays as major airports in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and other parts of New England expected to see disruptive snow totals. Nearly 600 flights had already been canceled and thousands more delayed by Sunday evening, as major airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and US Airways announced winter-weather waivers, which allow passengers to change their itinerary without paying a fee.