NEW YORK CITY, U.S.A. Winter Storm Juno, nicknamed the “Norbeaster,” blasted the East Coast marking some of the coldest temperatures and largest snowfall accumulations on record.
Winter Storm Map (© The Weather Channel)
In New York City alone, the polar vortex left large stretches of the Hudson River frozen over, caused thousands of flight cancellations and urged an intense travel ban (including the first-time suspension of public transit systems due to snow).
Hudson River frozen over (© The Daily Mail)
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the travel ban for all but emergency vehicles on every road in thirteen counties and imposed a $300 fine for violators.
Cuomo stated: “If you are in your car and you are on any road, town, village, city, it doesn’t matter, after 11 o’clock, you will technically be committing a crime. It could be a matter of life and death, so caution is required.”
The city´s iconic streets converted into an entirely different image, free of cars and open businesses. However, with the additional school, work and entertainment event cancellations, people filled the streets and animated the previously abandoned, eerie locale with snowball fights and other typical winter activities.
Snowball fight (© MIRROR.CO.UK)
Initially hitting the East Coast on January 26th, Juno originated in Canada and the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes areas of the U.S. However, its intensification off the Atlantic Coast caused it to evolve into a major coastal storm.
The National Weather Service reported: “A pronounced surface ridge to the north will supply sufficient subfreezing air to the Northeastern US. This will allow snow to be the dominant precipitation type with hefty totals expected given the anomalous slug of moisture hitting the New England coast.”
Post-Juno, the East Coast has yet to recover from the crippling cold, as it was hit by successive Winter Storms Linus, Kari and Neptune and now prepares for what Winter Storm Sparta will bring.
Juno Aftermath (© MIRROR.CO.UK)