A powerful, fast-moving storm swept through the northeastern United States on Thursday, threatening to drop a foot (30 cm) or more of snow on major cities including New York, Boston and Baltimore, Maryland.
The snow storm, which began on Thursday morning, had the potential to be the most powerful storm this winter, bringing along strong winds and coastal flooding.
Forecasters also warned the storm would bring winds gusting to 50 miles per hour (80 kmph) and periods of “thunder snow,” which could drop as much as 4 inches (10 cm) of snow per hour, making travel extremely dangerous.
“This is going to be a big punch,” said Benjamin Sipprell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts. “It’s originating in the Ohio River Valley and starts cranking as it comes across…