A snow storm hitting the East Coast of the US left residents of New York City experiencing below-freezing temperatures, with more than 1,200 flights canceled in the Big Apple.
In true New York style, hundreds saw a silver lining in the powerful nor’easter as an impromptu snowball fight broke out at Washington Square Park on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, New York City woke up blanketed in snow from the city’s first major storm of the season. National Weather Service reported snowfall of 1 to 2 inches per hour, with some parts of the city at up to 8 inches overnight.
Hundreds of people participate in a large snow ball fight in Washington Square Park on January 29, 2022 in New York City
The crowd takes advantage of the winter snow storm to enjoy a snowball at Washington Square Park with the Empire State Building in the distance
Snowfall blankets the Times Square in New York City after a massive nor’easter on Saturday
The crowd takes advantage of the winter snow storm to enjoy a snowball at Washington Square Park with the Empire State Building in the distance
An aerial view of Central Park is seen with snow covered in New York City
JANUARY 29: People of all ages play in the snow in Central Park during a Nor’easter storm on January 29
from Senegal screams while sitting on someone’s shoulder shirtless participating in a large snow ball fight in Washington Square Park
A woman carries an inflatable alligator through Times Square during a Nor’easter storm
Officials issued a travel advisory and the city’s mass transit system saw disruptions on Saturday, but transit was back to normal for the most part on Sunday morning, with the State Island Ferry back in operation.
Gusty winds and falling temperatures plunged the city into a deep freeze, but some did not mind the cold and enjoyed a snowball fight in Washington Square Park.
The event was loosely organized by a group of local comedians who posted an impromptu invitation to the fight on their Instagram.
Hours later, the park was filled with crowds of New Yorkers battling out the cold by throwing snowballs at each other, some of whom had snowball makers and used umbrellas to shield themselves.
Despite freezing temperatures and high winds, hundreds of college students and residents participated in a massive snowball fight
Snow laborers worked to clear main roads in New York City after the city was blanketed in snow by powerful storm Kenan
A person clears snow from their car on 42nd street during a Nor’easter storm
Snowfall blankets the Times Square in New York City
A snow plow clears 42nd Street during a Nor’easter on Saturday
An NYPD vehicle is seen driven through the snow-covered road in Times Square on Saturday night
Officials issued a travel advisory and the city’s mass transit system saw disruptions on Saturday, but transit was back to normal for the most part on Sunday morning
In true New York style, hundreds saw a silver lining in the powerful nor’easter after an impromptu snowball fight broke out at Washington Square Park on Saturday afternoon
The storm was New York’s first major storm of the season. Mayor Eric Adams issued a 24-hour State of Emergency on Friday, ahead of the storm.
‘It’s high winds, heavy snow, blizzard conditions – all the elements of a classical nor’easter,’ Governor Kathy Hochul also said on Friday,
The powerful storm, dubbed Kenan, dropped up to two feet of snow in some parts of Long Island.
The town of Islip was the hardest hit statewide, Governor Hochul said. ‘We’re going to give them the golden snowball award for this week, this storm. They were at 24.7 inches,’ Hochul said.
Much quieter weather was expected across the U.S. East Coast on Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
New York City also saw significant snowfall, with 8 inches in Central Park before the storm moved out on Saturday evening.
On Saturday morning, snow was falling furiously at a rate of one to two inches per hour in New York City, which saw eight inches overnight in some areas
New Yorkers enjoy snow as snowfall blankets the Central Park in New York City
A person skis in Central Park during a Nor’easter storm
A couple walks on the Brooklyn Bridge while holding their hands during snowfall
NYC snowstorm at the classic Staple Street Skybridge in Tribeca. The scene of countless films and TV shows the bridge connect two apartment lofts at this famous lower Manhattan location
The Long Island Rail Road service was suspended all day Saturday but was set to resume operation on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Metro-North is operating on an hourly basis in Harlem, Hudson and New Haven.
The New York City Department of Sanitation said staff would be working 12-hour shifts to clear the streets.
‘It’s going to be a long fight today,’ NYC Sanitation Commissioner Ed Grayson told FOX.
Sanitation workers will be aided by snow laborers helping clear the snow and ice from crosswalks, bus stops and hydrants, the department said.
The weather may have contributed to the death of an elderly woman who was found on Saturday in a hotel parking lot in Uniondale, New York, with her car window open, according to an officer at the Nassau County Police Department in Long Island.
New Yorkers enjoy snow as snowfall blankets the Central Park, where the storm dropped eight inches of snow on Saturday
The New York City Department of Sanitation said staff would be working 12-hour shifts to clear the streets
Sanitation workers will be aided by snow laborers helping clear the snow and ice from crosswalks, bus stops and hydrants, the department added
A scenic shot of Times Square after a powerful nor’easter hit the Big Apple on Saturday
On Saturday morning, snow was falling furiously at a rate of one to two inches per hour in New York City, which saw eight inches, with up to 18 inches on the eastern end of Long Island.
‘This is a very serious storm,’ Gov Hochul said at a press conference. ‘This could be life-threatening.’
‘It is going to get quite ugly out there,’ she said in an early-morning television interview from City Hall. ‘This is going to be a historic storm.’
Officials from the New York State Thruway Authority’s city division said Saturday morning that crews had worked through the night treating the roadways, but cautioned residents to avoid all travel if possible.
More than 4,500 flights were cancelled across the country Saturday, including nearly every flight into or out of Boston, and more than 1,000 flights in the New York City area.
Hundreds enjoyed a snowball fight at Washington Square Park on Saturday
Despite freezing temperatures and high winds, hundreds of college students and residents participated in a massive snowball fight
Lone cross country skier on Jay Street in Tribeca NYC, the way to get around in lower Manhattan in the noreaster
‘Travel is not recommended through [Saturday] evening,’ the NWS New York City office said on Saturday. ‘If you must travel, use extreme caution and have a winter survival kit with you.’
New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned New Yorkers not to travel and canceled outdoor dining and vaccine appointments on Saturday ahead of the powerful Nor’easter.
Adams warned that ‘Mother Nature has a tendency to do what she wants’ and praised the city’s Department of Sanitation workers for their efforts to keep the roads passable, as well as residents for shoveling sidewalks.
He urged New Yorkers to stay home if possible and to take public transit if travel is absolutely necessary.
‘Get home safely tonight, remain home over the weekend, avoid any unnecessary travel,’ New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement, singling out Long Island, New York City and the lower Hudson Valley for particularly deep snow.
Hundreds of people are seen participating in the large snowball fight on Saturday
A boy makes snowballs with a scooper ahead of a snowball fight in Washington Square Park
man reacts while participating in a large snow ball fight in Washington Square Park
Despite freezing temperatures and high winds, hundreds of college students and residents participated in a massive snowball fight
She also urged people who had to travel to fill their car gas tanks and keep supplies such as ice scrapers, blankets and water in their vehicles.
Across the region, residents hunkered down and avoided travel at the behest of government leaders, who warned of whiteout conditions. Business closed or opened late.
New York airports, including John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia, have cancelled more than 400 flights in and out for Friday and over 1,200 flights arriving and departing on Saturday.
As of early Sunday, LaGuardia Airport and JFK each had over 200 flight cancellations.
Nor’easters are powerful snow storms which affect the East Coast of the US and Canada.
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