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American Morning
National Weather Service Issues Blizzard Warning in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut
Aired February 17, 2003 - 08:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story this morning, of course, the winter blast. All you have to do is look behind me to understand what most of us along the East Coast are putting up with this morning. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
We have two reports now, Jason Carroll here in New York, Patty Davis at Reagan National Airport in Washington.
Jason, we're going to start off with you this morning.
I know it's very hard to tell from this picture now, but explain to us just how high the winds are periodically.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it just depends upon as you're standing out here. Right now the winds have sort of died down but then all of a sudden you get a strong gust that will come through and the icy snow just starts to blow through your, blow into your face.
We're standing right here now in front of Central Park, where you can see the snow has really come down. Central Park is a pretty important place in New York City for one particular reason during a snowstorm. They use it as a gauge in terms of how much snow has fallen.
Ten inches now we're told so far has fallen in Central Park, and as you know, this storm is far from over.
We are under a blizzard warning. Take a look up. You can see part of the reason why. When you've got a blizzard warning, what you're experiencing are near whiteout conditions and that's what we have out here right now.
Same condition as what they're dealing with in Philadelphia. If you take a look down there, they're expecting anywhere between up to 25 inches of snow down there. New York's expecting anywhere between 18 and 24. But in Philadelphia, expecting about 25 inches down there.
The State of Pennsylvania under a state of emergency. The same, we are told, for the State of New Jersey.
In fact, we have a quick update for you there. The National Guard has been called out in New Jersey, in southern New Jersey, to help many of those people who have been stranded out on the roadways. In terms of the roadways here in New York City, the plows have come through and those people who are trying to make their way through are going to have a difficult time so they're telling people stay off the roads. If you don't have to be out, don't go out. Very simple.
As you can see from looking at Columbus Circle, an area that's usually extremely crowded, even on a holiday, take a look at it, Paula, just about empty -- Paula, back to you.
ZAHN: Yes, that's, those are the kind of days we fantasize about without the snow in New York City.
Jason, how, I know this storm packed an even stronger punch that some of the meteorologists were predicting. In general, how are the emergency services departments prepared not only in New York, but in Philadelphia?
CARROLL: In New York, very well. At least 1,500 snow plows out on the roadways. What they're doing is they're dumping 140,000 tons of salt out on the roadways here in New York. In terms of Philadelphia, again, you're going to find the same scenario. Snow plows out there. But, again, the state of Philadelphia under a state of emergency, as well as New Jersey. So they definitely have their hands full down south.
In terms of the State of New York, we're used to dealing with a lot of snow. New Yorkers are a tough lot. So the state not under a state of emergency but the storm is not over yet.
ZAHN: I know. I guess we're told the worst of it'll come even later this afternoon.
Jason Carroll, stay warm. We'll let you take a little break now.
See you in the next half hour.
Time to check in with Patty Davis now, who is dealing with the aftermath of this horrible storm that went through Washington, D.C. now.
Now, are you still getting nailed with some snow today?
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're saying a couple more inches expected and right now we're getting some sleet and some freezing rain and lots of wind. So that's making conditions pretty tough here.
You look over at this snow bank here, where I just kind of put my foot in here about an hour ago, you can see the snow drifts here has covered up my footprints. Now, over on the runway here you see crews are working this. They are really trying to move that snow. Huge snow piles out there as they try to dig this airport out.
Now, Dulles Airport has one runway open, but yesterday only five percent of the flights operated out of that airport. This airport here, Reagan National, expected to open by noon today, but a spokeswoman saying that that's really optimistic. Baltimore- Washington International Airport is closed right now and they're saying they may try to open by noon.
Now, here at this airport, you go inside and you see people sleeping on the heat grates. They're sleeping on the chairs. You know, they're just starting to wake up now. A lot of them camped out, they said last night, because they don't want to miss being able to get their flight today if their flight does, indeed, take off.
Now let's go over and look at the Metro over here. That's the subway system here in Washington, D.C. If you look over there, you can see an elevated portion of the tracks. Now those are all closed this morning because of ice problems. Now, as well, Amtrak this morning also talking about some suspensions of service, particularly south of Washington because of bad weather -- back to you, Paula.
ZAHN: It sounds like a real good day for people to stay inside and watch CNN, doesn't it?
DAVIS: Absolutely.
ZAHN: Thanks, Patty.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
York, New Jersey, Connecticut>
Aired February 17, 2003 - 08:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Our top story this morning, of course, the winter blast. All you have to do is look behind me to understand what most of us along the East Coast are putting up with this morning. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
We have two reports now, Jason Carroll here in New York, Patty Davis at Reagan National Airport in Washington.
Jason, we're going to start off with you this morning.
I know it's very hard to tell from this picture now, but explain to us just how high the winds are periodically.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it just depends upon as you're standing out here. Right now the winds have sort of died down but then all of a sudden you get a strong gust that will come through and the icy snow just starts to blow through your, blow into your face.
We're standing right here now in front of Central Park, where you can see the snow has really come down. Central Park is a pretty important place in New York City for one particular reason during a snowstorm. They use it as a gauge in terms of how much snow has fallen.
Ten inches now we're told so far has fallen in Central Park, and as you know, this storm is far from over.
We are under a blizzard warning. Take a look up. You can see part of the reason why. When you've got a blizzard warning, what you're experiencing are near whiteout conditions and that's what we have out here right now.
Same condition as what they're dealing with in Philadelphia. If you take a look down there, they're expecting anywhere between up to 25 inches of snow down there. New York's expecting anywhere between 18 and 24. But in Philadelphia, expecting about 25 inches down there.
The State of Pennsylvania under a state of emergency. The same, we are told, for the State of New Jersey.
In fact, we have a quick update for you there. The National Guard has been called out in New Jersey, in southern New Jersey, to help many of those people who have been stranded out on the roadways. In terms of the roadways here in New York City, the plows have come through and those people who are trying to make their way through are going to have a difficult time so they're telling people stay off the roads. If you don't have to be out, don't go out. Very simple.
As you can see from looking at Columbus Circle, an area that's usually extremely crowded, even on a holiday, take a look at it, Paula, just about empty -- Paula, back to you.
ZAHN: Yes, that's, those are the kind of days we fantasize about without the snow in New York City.
Jason, how, I know this storm packed an even stronger punch that some of the meteorologists were predicting. In general, how are the emergency services departments prepared not only in New York, but in Philadelphia?
CARROLL: In New York, very well. At least 1,500 snow plows out on the roadways. What they're doing is they're dumping 140,000 tons of salt out on the roadways here in New York. In terms of Philadelphia, again, you're going to find the same scenario. Snow plows out there. But, again, the state of Philadelphia under a state of emergency, as well as New Jersey. So they definitely have their hands full down south.
In terms of the State of New York, we're used to dealing with a lot of snow. New Yorkers are a tough lot. So the state not under a state of emergency but the storm is not over yet.
ZAHN: I know. I guess we're told the worst of it'll come even later this afternoon.
Jason Carroll, stay warm. We'll let you take a little break now.
See you in the next half hour.
Time to check in with Patty Davis now, who is dealing with the aftermath of this horrible storm that went through Washington, D.C. now.
Now, are you still getting nailed with some snow today?
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're saying a couple more inches expected and right now we're getting some sleet and some freezing rain and lots of wind. So that's making conditions pretty tough here.
You look over at this snow bank here, where I just kind of put my foot in here about an hour ago, you can see the snow drifts here has covered up my footprints. Now, over on the runway here you see crews are working this. They are really trying to move that snow. Huge snow piles out there as they try to dig this airport out.
Now, Dulles Airport has one runway open, but yesterday only five percent of the flights operated out of that airport. This airport here, Reagan National, expected to open by noon today, but a spokeswoman saying that that's really optimistic. Baltimore- Washington International Airport is closed right now and they're saying they may try to open by noon.
Now, here at this airport, you go inside and you see people sleeping on the heat grates. They're sleeping on the chairs. You know, they're just starting to wake up now. A lot of them camped out, they said last night, because they don't want to miss being able to get their flight today if their flight does, indeed, take off.
Now let's go over and look at the Metro over here. That's the subway system here in Washington, D.C. If you look over there, you can see an elevated portion of the tracks. Now those are all closed this morning because of ice problems. Now, as well, Amtrak this morning also talking about some suspensions of service, particularly south of Washington because of bad weather -- back to you, Paula.
ZAHN: It sounds like a real good day for people to stay inside and watch CNN, doesn't it?
DAVIS: Absolutely.
ZAHN: Thanks, Patty.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
York, New Jersey, Connecticut>
