NORTHEAST U.S. – Winter Storm Linus is making its way to the northeastern United States after bringing snow and freezing rain to the Midwest.
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Linus is the fifth largest blizzard to ever hit the Windy City, leaving more than 19 inches of snow on the ground there this morning, and the Weather Channel is saying that it is the third largest to ever hit Detroit.
In Chicago, the storm began Saturday night and produced almost non-stop snowfall, coupled with drifting snow and wind gusts of up to 45 mph.
According to NBC News, approximately 1,700 flights were cancelled in and out of Chicago’s airports by Sunday afternoon leaving at least 15,000 people scrambling to find other ways to their destinations.
The Weather Channel is forecasting that Linus will bring a swath of heavy snow across much of the Northeast, laying down a narrow zone of freezing rain across a heavily populated area near New York City and into parts of southern New England.
In New England, the heaviest snowfall totals are expected west and north of Boston to Downeast Maine, where totals could exceed 18 inches.
Snow began to fall in NYC last night and has since changed to freezing rain with occasional sleet. Though nearly 6 inches of snow have already accumulated in some areas of New England, the forecast for New York City is only 2-5 inches of snow.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that ice would be the biggest threat and that commuters should be “very, very cautious,” according to NBC News. Mayor de Blasio was much more conservative about this storm after Winter Storm Juno only dropped 6 inches instead of the two feet which were warned against. He said that the city is prepared for the weather and will not shut down.
The Associated Press is reporting that the storm is currently affecting NYC-area airports with 560 cancellations at Newark-Liberty International, 325 at LaGuardia and 124 at JFK. Luckily, after today there is no snow or winter weather forecasted in New York City for the rest of the work-week.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest on Winter Storm Linus.
