Power outages, travel troubles and bitter cold plague Northeast in wake of historic bomb cyclone blizzard
Historic Bomb Cyclone Brings Power Outages, Travel Chaos and Extreme Cold to Northeast
On Tuesday, thousands across the Northeast remained without electricity as freezing temperatures persisted, complicating recovery efforts from a two-day snowstorm that dumped over two feet of snow in multiple states. The region’s residents and mid-Atlantic commuters battled ongoing disruptions, with hundreds of flights canceled and public transit delayed due to icy conditions.
Storm Rapidly Intensifies, Spurring Emergency Measures
The storm, which emerged Sunday night, escalated to bomb cyclone status on Monday morning, intensifying with winds surpassing hurricane speeds and heavy snowfall bands. Local authorities issued travel bans and declared states of emergency as millions faced blizzard warnings, opting to stay indoors amid the severe weather.
Power Restoration Faces Multi-Day Delays
According to PowerOutage.us, more than 225,000 households were still without electricity Tuesday night, with the majority of outages concentrated in Massachusetts. Eversource utility company customers in southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, were disproportionately affected. Doug Foley, Eversource’s electric operations president, stated at a Tuesday news conference:
“It will take days to restore power to every Massachusetts customer. The last couple will be a couple days out.”
Travel Disruptions Continue Despite Easing Restrictions
Even as travel bans were lifted, mobility remained challenging. Public transit delays and icy roads hindered movement, while flight cancellations lingered. By 8 p.m. ET, over 2,200 US flights had been canceled, with the bulk originating or destined for Newark, Boston, and New York’s LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports. Alyssa Myers, stranded at Philadelphia International Airport, recounted her ordeal:
“If you don’t have to go, cancel the trip, get the refund, wait for warmer weather,” she advised CNN’s Danny Freeman.
Broader Impacts on Daily Life and Services
The storm’s effects extended beyond transportation, causing widespread school closures, postponing key legislative votes in Congress, and halting operations for DoorDash in the nation’s largest city. As the system weakened by Monday evening, forecasts indicated more snow could arrive, prolonging the region’s recovery.
Regional Recovery Efforts Underway
While some areas began clearing snow, the prolonged cold and lingering disruptions underscored the storm’s intensity. Officials and utility providers emphasized that full restoration would require sustained efforts, with the Northeast still grappling with the aftermath of one of the most severe winter events in recent memory.
This report was compiled by CNN’s August Phillips, Aaron Cooper, Holly Yan, Alaa Elassar, Zoe Sottile, Hanna Park, and meteorologists Mary Gilbert, Briana Waxman, and Chris Dolce.