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New York City was swept away by a snow squall—a quick burst of intense heavy snowfall—on Wednesday, just days ahead of the official start of winter.
Accompanied by gusty winds, the sudden storm saw The Big Apple vanish beneath a cloud of snow. The National Weather Service issued a snow squall warning from 4:15 p.m. (local time) across the city as well parts of the Tri-State Area and other surrounding areas, which was in place until 5:30 p.m. (local time).
Several locals have taken to social media to share footage of the snow squall. A time-lapse video from NBC News captured the dramatic movement of last night's squall as it swallowed up the city in what seems like an apocalyptic film scene.
"The NWS issues snow squall warnings for snow squalls where the highest threat of rapidly changing visibilities are the most likely to occur," the National Weather Service (NWS) notes.
"On snow squall days, unrestricted visibilities can turn into whiteout conditions in a matter of seconds," the NWS explains.
"The combination of quick reductions in visibilities and sudden slick conditions on roadways can often lead to high speed wrecks, pileups, and subsequently injuries and fatalities. There is also a high economic impact as interstates can be shut down for hours," it adds.
Central Park was reported to have around 0.4 inches of snow, according to the NWS New York.
"Quite chilly temperatures expected today with highs in the mid to upper 20s [Fahrenheit] this afternoon and crystal clear skies," the NWS New York said in a post on its official Twitter account.
The Northeast will see continued cold and blustery conditions as an Arctic air blast moves southeastward this week, with an Alberta clipper (a fast-moving low-pressure system that moves southeast out of the Canadian province of Alberta) heading to the Great Lakes and Northeast, which is what caused the recent snow squall across the region, AccuWeather reported.
Two deaths and dozens of injuries were reported in nearby Pennsylvania following a multi-vehicle car crash during yesterday's snow squall, The Associated Press reported.
The crash, which involved 15 to 20 cars and trucks, was reported around 1 p.m. on Interstate 80 in the White Deer Township. The interstate was closed in both directions for 34 miles, but eastbound lanes were later reopened.
The Union County coroner confirmed one person died, while the Montour County coroner confirmed a second person died at a hospital. The names of both people have yet to be released.
At least one person was flown to a hospital by a rescue crew, while 37 people were admitted to Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg, with at least three transferred to other facilities.
Nine patients were reported to be at Geisinger Medical Center, while 21 others who weren't patients were also being housed at the hospital, AP reported.
New Jersey's Jersey Central Power & Light, as well as the Public Service Enterprise Group, reported nearly 5,000 homes and businesses saw power outages in the state, with most of the affected customers being in the Morris and Essex counties, AP reported.
Snow squalls typically occur during the day but can also take place at any time. Commuters are advised by the NWS to consider avoiding or delaying travel until a snow squall has passed your location and to reduce your speed if you are on the road during a snow squall.
"In a matter of seconds unrestricted visibilities can change to near zero.
"With roads being slick, this could contribute to loss of vehicle control and also increase the risk of a chain reaction crash," the NWS notes.
About the writer
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in Read more