More than 5,000 flights cancelled as US east coast digs out of record snow

A significant storm struck the US east coast on Monday, bringing record snowfall that led to widespread disruptions and thousands of flight cancellations. Areas in Rhode Island and Massachusetts recorded almost 37 inches (94 cm) of snow, while New York City’s Central Park saw over 19 inches. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued weather alerts from North Carolina up to northern Maine, with some warnings extending into parts of eastern Canada. More than 600,000 homes on the east coast lost power due to the storm. Notably, the Boston Globe, a prominent US newspaper, announced it would not publish for the first time in its 153-year history because of the weather. Travel in the region has been heavily restricted, with several states and cities enforcing travel bans during the storm's peak. The so-called “nor’easter” has now moved away from the US and into coastal areas of eastern Canada, though strong winds are still expected, as reported by the NWS. Anticipated snow totals near the northeast coastline were expected to reach between 1 and 2 feet (30-61 cm). Rhode Island, the smallest state in the US, appeared to experience the heaviest snowfall during the storm. Local reports stated that this storm has become the most severe snow event in the state's history. Providence, the capital, received 36 inches (91 cm) of snow, surpassing the previous record for the largest snowstorm of 28.6 inches (72.6 cm) set in February 1978.