New York City found itself in the throes of a powerful weather system over the weekend, as heavy rain and strong winds lashed the tri-state area. The fast-moving storm brought snow to northern New England and left around 360,000 households in the Northeast without power. According to PowerOutage.us, as of 6 a.m. ET on Sunday, over 197,000 households in Maine, 81,000 in New York state, and 73,000 in New Hampshire were affected by the power outages.

Officials urged residents to prioritize safety in the wake of the storm, emphasizing the importance of staying informed and heeding any warnings or alerts. Robert Buxton, Director of the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, advised the public to stay away from downed wires and to contact emergency services if necessary. The impact of the storm was felt across the region, with flooding in some areas and the possibility of minor flooding in low-lying regions.

In New York City, a flood watch was issued as the storm system threatened to dump up to 4 inches of rain on parts of the area. Governor Kathy Hochul encouraged New Yorkers to stay off the roads and exercise caution, particularly in the face of potential hazards like downed power lines. By Sunday morning, the Northeast was blanketed in snow, leading to downed trees in some parts of New York City and flooded roads throughout the region.

Alongside the rain and wind, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the New York City area, warning of gusts up to 25 mph that could cause debris to become airborne and lead to power outages. The inclement weather also resulted in significant delays at New York City airports, with arrivals at John F. Kennedy International Airport experiencing an average delay of three hours as of 5 p.m. EDT.

In other parts of the country, a fast-moving storm brought snow to northern New England, leading to winter alerts across a wide swath of territory. The Maine Emergency Management Agency cautioned that hazardous travel conditions could arise as mixed precipitation fell in some areas. Meanwhile, in the Twin Cities area, significant snowfall was anticipated, adding to the accumulation from a previous snowstorm. Further west, California experienced rainfall and snowfall, with parts of the state recording record amounts of precipitation for the date.

As the storm system continued its eastward trajectory, blizzard conditions were predicted for the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, with severe thunderstorms expected in areas from Kansas to Texas. The National Weather Service issued warnings about the potential for heavy snow and strong winds in these regions, urging residents to stay vigilant and prepared for challenging weather conditions.