Up to four inches of snow an hour fell in parts of the Northeast early Tuesday as tens of millions of people hunkered down for a historic blizzard that shut down travel — but New York City and Philadelphia escaped the worst of the weather.
New England was braced for two or even three feet of snow, whipped by near-hurricane force winds that created almost whiteout conditions and threatened coastal flooding.
However, a blizzard warning was downgraded to a winter storm alert in all but one county of New York early Tuesday.
As winds combined with high tides, a storm surge. . .
East Coast Readies Itself for Up to 3 Feet of Snow
A couple kisses during a blizzard in Times Square in New York City on Jan. 26, 2015.Benjamin Lowy—Getty Images Reportage for TIMEA man crosses the street in New York City during a snow storm in New York City on Jan. 26, 2015. Benjamin Lowy—Getty Images Reportage for TIMEPeople walk in front of the Manhattan Bridge in the DUMBO neighborhood as it snows in Brooklyn, NY on Jan. 26, 2015Andrew HinderakerA man walks through the middle of a snow storm in Times Square, New York City on Jan. 26, 2015. Benjamin Lowy—Getty Images Reportage for TIMEA man waits to cross the street in Brooklyn, NY on Jan. 26, 2015.Andrew HinderakerA pedestrian passes through Johnstown Central Park, in Johnstown, Pa., Monday, Jan. 26, 2015.Todd Berkey—The Tribune-Democrat/APFishing boats ride out the storm at dock in Scituate, Mass., on Jan. 27, 2015. Michael Dwyer—APA worker pushes a snow blower down Lexington Avenue in Manhattan on Jan. 26, 2015.Carlo Allegri—ReutersA man stands in falling snow on West 42nd street in Times Square in New York City on Jan. 26, 2015. Mike Segar—ReutersTwo people huddle for warmth on the street in New York City on Jan. 26, 2015.Benjamin Lowy—Getty Images Reportage for TIMEA man strolls on a walking path at Liberty State Park, with the Statue of Liberty in the distance, in Jersey City, N.J. on Jan. 26, 2015.Julio Cortez—APA tugboat sails on the East River during a snow storm in New York City on Jan. 26, 2015. Jewel Samad—AFP/Getty ImagesPeople walk over the Brooklyn Bridge during a large winter storm in New York City on Jan. 26, 2015.Andrew Kelly—EPAA man crosses the street during a snow storm in New York City on Jan. 26, 2015. Benjamin Lowy—Getty Images Reportage for TIMEA woman walks though Central Park as it snows in the Manhattan borough of New York City on Jan. 26, 2015. Carlo Allegri—ReutersChildren play in Central Park as it snows in the Manhattan borough of New York City on Jan. 26, 2015. Carlo Allegri—ReutersLoaves of bread sit on a sparse shelf at a grocery store in Port Washington, New York on Jan. 26, 2015. Shannon Stapleton—ReutersA crewmember de-ices a Frontier Airlines plane at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, Jan. 26, 2015. Seth Wenig—APCrews load road salt into trucks ahead of a major winter storm in Chelsea, Mass. on Jan. 26, 2015.Brian Snyder—ReutersSnow falls in New York City on Jan. 26, 2015.Benjamin Lowy—Getty Images Reportage for TIME
