Blizzard warning now issued for Eastern New York

Snow is already piling up in parts of the Northeast where massive storm is hammering. According to the New York Times, the north and west of New York have seen up to 30 inches of snow falling, causing schools to close, limiting the Metro-North subway service, and cancelling flights. The most recent warning from the National Weather Service (NWS) was issued today for the following locations: The Lake George Saratoga region, the Greater Capital Region (including the Helderbergs and Schoharie Valley in New York), and Bennington County in Vermont.

New warning in effect until 4am EDT

Earlier on Monday, the NWS announced a winter storm watch for areas that include a large part of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and New England. A most recent update has cancelled blizzard warnings for Maine and Pennsylvania, as winter storm Stella is sweeping over the Northeast of New York. The new warning for Eastern New York comes with a note of caution that it will be extremely dangerous for travel, “due to the snow covered roads, white-out conditions along with blowing and drifting of snows.”

Citizens are advised not to travel and to carry a winter survival kit if travel is absolutely necessary. According to ready.gov, to prepare for severe weather conditions, you should add to your emergency kit rock salt to melt ice on walkways, sand to improve traction, snow shovels or other snow removal equipment, sufficient heating fuel, seasoned wood for a wood-burning stove or fireplace, and adequate clothing to keep warm.

New York City’s state of emergency is in effect until midnight tonight.

Winter storm Stella coming through

According to weather forecasters, the winter storm is progressing from south to north across the Northeast region. The strong wind that comes with the storm, as strong as 40 to 60 mph, could cause blizzard or “near-blizzard” conditions.

Blizzard warnings were issued before for nine states in the Northeast: portions of eastern Pennsylvania, northern/central New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, northern Rhode Island, Massachusetts, western Vermont, southeast New Hampshire, and southern Maine.