Power outages, travel troubles and bitter cold plague Northeast in wake of historic bomb cyclone blizzard

Historic Bomb Cyclone Leaves Northeast in Chaos Amid Snow, Cold, and Power Outages

Residents across the Northeast endured freezing conditions Tuesday, with thousands still without electricity as the region and mid-Atlantic areas continued to recover from a two-day onslaught of heavy snowfall. In several states, snow accumulation surpassed two feet, causing widespread travel delays and flight cancellations that lingered into the evening. Public transportation systems faced significant disruptions, and icy roadways left many stranded despite eased restrictions.

The storm, which intensified overnight on Sunday, escalated to bomb cyclone status by Monday morning. This rapid development brought hurricane-force winds, stronger snow bands, and severe power outages affecting hundreds of thousands. Local authorities issued state of emergency declarations and travel bans, urging residents to stay indoors as blizzard warnings remained active for tens of millions of people.

According to PowerOutage.us, over 225,000 customers were without power Tuesday night, with more than 190,000 in Massachusetts. The majority of these outages occurred in southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, under the care of Eversource utility company. “Restoration will take days,” said Doug Foley, Eversource’s president of electric operations. “The last few customers may remain without power for a couple more days.”

“If you don’t have to go, cancel the trip, get the refund, wait for warmer weather,” Alyssa Myers advised CNN’s Danny Freeman at Philadelphia International Airport. Myers had multiple times rebooked and canceled her flight from Philadelphia to Albuquerque after it was initially disrupted by the storm.

While the storm’s intensity waned by Monday evening, its aftermath continued to disrupt daily life. Schools were closed, major train routes were altered, and even DoorDash temporarily suspended operations in the region’s largest city. The US House and Senate also postponed key legislative proceedings due to the extreme weather. As of 8 p.m. ET, over 2,200 US flights had been canceled Tuesday, with the majority linked to Newark, Boston, and New York’s LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports.

Authorities warned that further snowfall could be on the horizon, adding to the challenges faced by communities already struggling to regain normalcy. CNN’s August Phillips, Aaron Cooper, Holly Yan, Alaa Elassar, Zoe Sottile, Hanna Park, and meteorologists Mary Gilbert, Briana Waxman, and Chris Dolce contributed to this report.