New York Shuts Down For Blizzard

New York City and other areas in the north-east US have shut down, with forecasters warning residents to expect "crippling" amounts of snow. Forecasters say Winter Storm Juno could dump up to 76cm (30ins) in some parts of New Jersey, Maine and New Hampshire. All non-emergency vehicles were banned in New York City from 23:00 on Monday (04:00 GMT Tuesday) and subway services were suspended. Similar measures were in place in Boston, Massachusetts. Some 60 million people may be affected. An emergency has been declared in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Boston, which is forecast to receive some of the highest snowfalls, has also suspended public transport and car travel. However, some meteorologists in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have downgraded their snowfall predictions, saying there has been less snowfall than initially forecast. At least one winter storm warning in New Jersey has been cancelled. In other developments: 6,500 flights in and out of airports along the East Coast cancelled Businesses and schools closed early on Monday Schools not expected to reopen before Wednesday at the earliest Boston is expected to bear the brunt of the storm 'Matter of life and death' The National Weather Service (NWS) earlier warned that a "potentially historic blizzard" was approaching the north-east. Pedestrians make their way through snow in New York This could be one of the biggest storms in New York City's history, meteorologists warn A worker clears snow from sidewalks in Boston, Massachusetts, 26 January 2015 Boston is also forecast to receive some of the highest snowfalls LaGuardia Airport in New York City, 26 January 2015 Thousands of flights have been cancelled Glenn Field of the NWS in Taunton, Massachusetts, told the BBC on Monday that the storm would be worse than previously thought. Hurricane-force winds of up to 80 mph (130km/h) would batter Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, he said. Mr Field said the heaviest snowfall would come in the early hours of Tuesday, with 15 inches expected between 01:00 and 05:00 (06:00-10:00 GMT), and 30 inches in total in parts of Massachusetts. line At the scene: Nick Bryant, BBC News, New York A man takes pictures of a deserted street in New York's Times Square during a snow storm, 26 January 2015 Streets in New York were quiet after the vehicle ban kicked in As the weather deteriorated, workers in New York left early and headed for the safety of home, heeding warnings from officials. The subway system has been shut down, for the first time because of snow. Broadway shows were dark, the neon-lit avenues deserted. It gave a ghostly feel to a city that famously never sleeps. The storm's effects are being felt way beyond Manhattan, from New Jersey to Maine. Coastal areas such as Cape Cod and Long Island could face flooding and power blackouts. Boston is also in its path. The Governor of Massachusetts called it "a top five historic storm." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warned residents against violating the driving ban in 13 southern counties of the state. "If you are in your car and you are on any road, town, village, city, it doesn't matter, after 11 o'clock, you will technically be committing a crime. "It could be a matter of life and death so caution is required," the governor said. Source:bbc