Flights halted, highways shut: Powerful winter storm hits US, blizzard warnings pile up — all you need to know

A powerful winter storm has unleashed blizzard conditions across the US Northeast, prompting widespread travel bans and flight cancellations. New York City and New Jersey declared travel emergencies as up to two feet of snow and strong winds reduced visibility. Forecasters were surprised by the storm's rapid intensification, potentially qualifying it as a bomb cyclone.