A powerful, fast-moving storm is lashing the northeastern United States, with the potential for more than a foot of snow along the heavily populated Philadelphia-to-Boston corridor.
The US National Weather Service predicted that the Boston area and eastern Maine could get 12 to 18 inches of snow, and a blizzard warning has been issued for all of Long Island. New York City could see eight to 12 inches and the Philadelphia area four to 8 inches. Near whiteout conditions were possible, with the snow expected to fall at a clip of two to four inches per hour at its peak.
9 February 2017: People walk in Times Square as heavy snow falls in Manhattan, New YorkAndrew Kelly/ReutersA pedestrian make his way through the snow and wind in the Brooklyn borough of New York CitySpencer Platt/Getty ImagesA statue of George M. Cohan stands in Times Square as snow falls in Manhattan, New YorkAndrew Kelly/ReutersThe Long Island Expressway in Hauppauge is almost empty of traffic as a blizzard hits the New York areaAndrew Theodorakis/Getty ImagesA snow plough clears the pedestrian walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York CityDrew Angerer/Getty ImagesPeople play with their dogs in the snow in the Brooklyn borough of New York CitySpencer Platt/Getty ImagesA woman and her dog cross Boston Common during a winter nor'easter snow storm in Boston, MassachusettsBrian Snyder/ReutersA man walks his dog in the snow in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaJessica Kourkounis/Getty ImagesA man struggles through in heavy falling snow in the Washington Heights section of upper Manhattan in New YorkMike Segar/ReutersA man shovels snow in the Brooklyn borough of New York CitySpencer Platt/Getty ImagesA commuter heads to work in the snow at the Huntington train stationAndrew Theodorakis/Getty ImagesA vehicle drives along the Northern State Parkway in Islip as a blizzard hits the New York areaAndrew Theodorakis/Getty ImagesCars are stuck as a blizzard hits Hauppauge, New YorkAndrew Theodorakis/Getty ImagesA conductor looks at the snow at the Metro North Greenwich train station in Greenwich, ConnecticutTimothy A Clary/AFPA car travels across the George Washington Bridge from New Jersey towards New York City in heavy falling snow in New YorkMike Segar/ReutersA pedestrian make his way through the snow and wind in the Brooklyn borough of New York CitySpencer Platt/Getty ImagesSnow falls at the Metro North Greenwich train station in Greenwich, ConnecticutTimothy A Clary/AFPCrews remove snow at Logan International Airport in Boston as winter storm conditions beginScott Eisen/Getty ImagesStranded travellers sit beneath a sign displaying cancelled flights in a nearly empty Delta Airlines terminal at New York's LaGuardia AirportMike Segar/ReutersA snowplow drives through Times Square as snow falls in Manhattan, New YorkAndrew Kelly/ReutersA man attempts to deliver packages in Times SquareAndrew Kelly/ReutersA worker attempts to clear steps in Times Square as snow falls in Manhattan, New YorkAndrew Kelly/ReutersA man walks in Times Square as snow falls in Manhattan, New YorkAndrew Kelly/ReutersA man walks across the Brooklyn Bridge in the snow in New York CityDrew Angerer/Getty Images
Schools have been closed in Albany, New York City, Philadelphia and Boston and numerous accidents have been reported. Nearly 1,700 flights have been cancelled at New York City's three major airports because of the powerful storm hitting the region. Officials also warned of high winds, coastal flooding and possible power outages.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said people should stay home. "If you need to go out, please, don't use your car," de Blasio said on NY1 television.
The storm comes a day after much of the Northeast enjoyed a brief glimpse of spring, with temperatures hitting 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5C) in some places.
Pedestrians and cyclists make their way across the Brooklyn Bridge on 8 February 2017Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesA man takes in the sun at the South Street Seaport during the lunch hour on 8 February 2017 in New York CityDrew Angerer/Getty Images
