The PDMA said the deaths, reported since March 20, include five men and eleven children, mostly due to collapsing roofs and walls amid heavy rainfall and flooding.

The injured include one man, four women and eleven children.

According to the report, Zhob recorded the highest number of deaths with six, followed by three in Loralai, two in Kech, and one each in Qila Abdullah, Daki, Kohlu, Jafarabad and Kachhi.

The report added that 161 houses were affected across the province, with 34 destroyed and 127 partially damaged.

At least 65 livestock, mainly sheep, also died due to the rains, while authorities said a detailed assessment of losses is still underway.

Rains have been continuing intermittently in the province for the past 11 days, causing widespread destruction in areas including Abbottabad, Bannu, North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Havelian, Nowshera, Jamrud and Bara.

According to reports, 25 houses were destroyed while 115 houses were partially damaged due to the ongoing rains.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has expressed concerns over the possible eruption of upper glacial lakes and has issued an alert to the administrations of five districts.

Other notable rainfall included 26 mm in Sibi, 21 mm in Lasbela, 14 mm in Barkhan, 10 mm in Quetta, 7 mm in Dalbandin, and 6 mm each in Khuzdar and Zhob. Turbat received 3 mm, and Mara received 1 mm.

Snowfall was reported on mountain peaks in cold regions, including Ziarat and Quetta, leading to a drop in temperatures.

The rains and snowfall have made the weather colder, particularly in northern districts.

The Meteorological Department forecasts that this series of rains will continue for the next one to two days.

Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and isolated thundershowers is expected in Zhob, Musikhel, Sherani, Sibi, Kohlu, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Jhal Magsi, Nasirabad, Harnai, Loralai, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Noshki, Mastung, Kalat, Panjgur, Turbat, Kech, Awaran, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Lasbela, Khuzdar, Kharan, Chagai, Dalbandin, and surrounding areas.

Heavy rain and hailstorms are expected in the northeastern districts of the province.

Strong westerly wind systems are causing a flood situation in several districts, including Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, and Dera Ismail Khan.

Other districts, including North and South Waziristan, Kurram, Karak, Orakzai, and Kohat, have also been affected by heavy rain.

The Met Office warned of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, and Charsadda.

Rivers and canals in Mansehra, Abbottabad, Swat, Dir, and Chitral may also overflow, it stated.

District administrations have been alerted, and citizens are instructed to take precautionary measures to ensure safety.

According to the Meteorological Department, around ninety percent of the province experienced rainfall: Zhob 19 mm, Barkhan 15 mm, Kalat 13 mm, Quetta 10 mm, Sibi 9 mm, Khuzdar 7 mm, Turbat 6 mm, Pishin and Chaman 5 mm, Dalbandin, Nokundi, and Gwadar 2 mm.

Light showers were reported in Muslim Bagh, Ormara, Panjgur, Noshki, and Lasbela.

The rains have increased cold in northern districts including Quetta and Ziarat. The Meteorological Department predicts this spell may continue until April 4.

Two children died and five people were injured in lightning strikes and other incidents.

Crops on 1,400 hectares have been damaged.

Torrential rain closed communication roads in Harnai and Qila Abdullah, with restoration work underway.

Repair work on the 18-inch gas pipeline destroyed three days ago in Quetta’s Mustafa Abad area began yesterday and is expected to be completed by tonight.

Hailstorms are also expected in some areas during this period, it added.

According to the department, Karachi recorded a minimum temperature of 22.7°C on Tuesday and humidity at 4 per cent.

The maximum temperature is expected to reach between 30°C and 32°C, the department said and forecast partly cloudy and pleasant conditions for the city.

Balochistan braces for rain, hail

The Meteorological Department also forecast partly cloudy weather for most districts of Balochistan, with rain, gusty winds, and thunderstorms expected in several areas on Tuesday.

Districts likely to see rain include Barkhan, Kohlu, Musa Khel, Loralai, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, and surrounding regions.

Heavier rainfall accompanied by hail is also possible in Zhob, Sibi, Kohlu, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Harnai, and other nearby districts.

Residents have been advised to remain cautious due to the possibility of localised flooding and storm-related hazards.

According to the PDMA, rains are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, and Gujranwala, as well as in Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Khushab, and Mandi Bahauddin.

Major cities, including Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chiniot, Bhakkar, Layyah, and Dera Ghazi Khan, are also expected to experience rainfall, the PDMA added.

A PDMA spokesperson highlighted a possible increase in the flow of rainwater drains in Dera Ghazi Khan and the Suleman Range.

In line with the Punjab chief minister’s instructions, alerts have been issued to commissioners, deputy commissioners, district administrations, and rescue agencies for precautionary measures.

Citizens are advised to stay in safe locations to avoid lightning.

Tourists visiting northern areas should take precautionary measures, the PDMA added.

The PDMA also warned of a risk of landslides in mountainous regions and urged the public to contact helpline 1129 in case of emergencies.

Incidents of roof and wall collapse were reported in many districts, including Abbottabad, Bannu, North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Havelian and Nowshera.

Nine houses were destroyed, while 51 others suffered partial damage.

Authorities have warned that the rains, expected to continue till April 4, may trigger the bursting of upper glacial lakes.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued alerts to the administrations of five affected districts.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures amid ongoing rainfall and potential flooding.

The Met Office predicted that a westerly wave is likely to approach the southwestern parts of Balochistan on April 1 and likely to persist till April 4.

Under the influence of this weather system, it said, Balochistan’s Panjgur, Turbat, Gawadar, Ormara, Quetta, Khuzdar, Chaghi, Chaman, Pishin, Qilla Abdullah, and other districts will receive rain-wind and thunderstorm (with isolated heavy falls/hailstorm) with occasional gaps during this period.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan districts will also experience precipitation from April 1 to 4. Heavy falls and hailstorms are also likely at isolated places in the province during the period, the PMD stated.

It forecast that rain will batter Islamabad and Punjab’s different districts, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Sialkot, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal and Bahawalnagar from April 1 (night) to April 4 with occasional gaps. Heavy falls are also likely in Dera Ghazi Khan and surrounding areas during the said period, it is maintained.

Rain-wind/thunderstorm (snowfall over the mountains) is expected in Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir as well during the period, the weather advisory department stated.

In Sindh, the Met Office forecast, rain-wind/thunderstorm (with isolated hailstorm) is expected in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Tharparkar and other districts from April 2 to 4 with occasional gaps.

The PMD has warned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the period.

Due to heavy rains, flash floods are expected in northeast Balochistan’s Khuzdar, Awaran, Kharan, Kalat, Mastung, Kohlu, Lasbela, Zhob, Qilla Saifullah, Qilla Abullah and Sherani. Hill torrents may hit Dera Ghazi Khan.

Windstorm/ hailstorm and lightning may damage weak structures, including electric poles, billboards and solar panels, during the forecast period, the department added.

Hailstorm/windstorm may damage standing crops in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. Farmers are advised to manage their crops according to the prevailing weather conditions.

Tourists and travellers are advised to remain extra cautious and avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period.

The PMD said daytime temperatures are likely to decrease during the forecast period as the weather system is likely to continue after April 4.

The weather department advised all concerned authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation.

According to the NDMA, strong winds, dust storms and widespread rain are likely in many areas.

Snowfall is expected in the upper and mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The authority said rain is expected in Islamabad, Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujar Khan, Gujrat and Gujranwala.

Thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds are also expected in Hafizabad, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin and Lahore.

Rain is also expected in Khushab, Sargodha, Jhang, Faisalabad, Kasur, Okara, Bahawalpur, Burewala, Multan, Dera Ismail Khan, Narowal, Chiniot, Nankana Sahib, Pakpattan and Sahiwal.

In addition, rainfall is expected in Haripur, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Astore, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot, Haveli, Poonch, Kotli, Neelum Valley, Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Chaman, Kohlu, Duki and Harnai.

The NDMA also warned of thunderstorms and gusty winds in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Mingora, Battagram, Peshawar and Abbottabad.

It stated that strong winds, lightning and possible hailstorms could damage weak structures, trees and power lines.

The authority warned that continuous rainfall in mountainous areas may increase the risk of landslides.

All provincial and district authorities have been directed to remain on high alert and take necessary precautions to deal with the expected weather conditions.

Islamabad and its surroundings will remain dry with partly cloudy skies, as will most districts of Punjab, Sindh and the rest of Balochistan.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will also see partly cloudy conditions, while Kashmir may experience rain and thunderstorms during the morning hours, and Gilgit-Baltistan will remain partly cloudy and dry.

During the last 24 hours, rain accompanied by windstorms and thunderstorms struck northern Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir, while partly cloudy conditions prevailed across most other parts of the country, the department reported.

Cherat recorded the highest rainfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 33 millimetres, followed by Parachinar with 25mm, Malam Jabba with 11mm, and Peshawar Airport and city with 8mm and 7mm respectively.

Saidu Sharif received 7mm, Lower Dir 6mm, and Kakul 5mm, with Takht Bai, Balakot, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan also recording measurable precipitation.

In Punjab, Chakwal led with 16mm of rainfall, followed by Joharabad with 14mm and Layyah with 8mm. Islamabad Airport recorded 7mm, while city stations including Zero Point, Saidpur, Golra and Bokra received 2mm each. Sheikhupura recorded 7mm, Attock and Hafizabad 6mm each, and Kot Addu 5mm. Sargodha, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Bhakkar each received 3mm. Balochistan saw Ormara recording 19mm, Barkhan 17mm, Zhob 8mm and Gwadar 3mm. In Azad Kashmir, Kotli received 6mm, Muzaffarabad 5mm, Garhi Dupatta 5mm and Rawalakot 1mm.

Mithi in Sindh recorded the highest temperature of the day at 37 degrees Celsius, followed by Shaheed Benazirabad at 36 degrees and both Hyderabad and Tando Jam at 35 degrees.

Karachi remained the warmest major city with a high of 33 degrees and a low of 24 degrees, while Lahore touched 30 degrees and Islamabad reached 27 degrees.

Murree was the coldest among major stations with temperatures ranging between 4 and 14 degrees, followed by Skardu at 5 to 17 degrees and Quetta at 10 to 18 degrees.

Heavy rains are expected to persist over the next two days in districts such as Quetta, Kharan, Khuzdar, Kech, Panjgur, Awaran, Chagai, Noshki, Ziarat, Chaman, Zhob, Musakhel, and Barkhan.

Strong winds, thunderstorms, and hail are forecast in Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Harnai, Kalat, Mastung, Sibi, Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni, and Ormara.

Temperature readings for today include: Quetta 22°C, Kalat 20°C, Ziarat 14°C, Zhob 16°C, Sibi 33°C, Turbat 33°C, Nokundi 32°C, Chaman 18°C, Gwadar 30°C, and Jiwani 31°C.

Residents are advised to take necessary precautions and remain alert during the ongoing inclement weather.

DG PDMA Salman Shah said Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Dadu, Kashmore, Jacobabad, and Larkana could be affected.

Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah chaired a meeting instructing Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Assistant Commissioners to remain in the field for the next seven days to ensure full preparedness.

PDMA staff have been directed to stay on high alert with necessary machinery ready, while district administrations and local bodies have been ordered to mobilise fully, ensure drainage systems are functional, and take emergency measures to maintain traffic flow.

Authorities have also been instructed to remove dangerous billboards vulnerable to rain and strong winds, and to run public awareness campaigns to inform residents about potential hazards.

Citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, and farmers have been urged to take precautions to protect crops.

The department said rain accompanied by strong winds and thundershowers is expected during the afternoon in districts including Kharan, Khuzdar, Kech, Panjgur, Awaran, Chagai, Noshki, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Harnai, Kalat and Mastung.

Hailstorms are also expected at some places.

The maximum temperature recorded today was 20°C in Quetta, 21°C in Kalat, 12°C in Ziarat, 14°C in Zhob, 34°C in Sibi, 32°C in Turbat and Nokundi, 17°C in Chaman, and 30°C in coastal areas including Gwadar and Jiwani.

The World Meteorological Organisation report said 2015-2025 were the hottest ​11 years since records began in ​1850.

2025 was either the second or third ⁠hottest on record, the WMO State of the ​Global Climate report said, at about 1.43 degrees ​Celsius above the pre-industrial average.

This confirms an earlier report from the WMO that 2025 was one of the three ​hottest years on record.

Glacier mass loss at key ​sites was among the five worst on record, the ‌report ⁠said, with exceptional declines reported in Iceland and North America.

“The state of the global climate is in a state of emergency. Planet Earth ​is being ​pushed beyond ⁠its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red,” said United Nations ​Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The report also confirmed ​that ⁠2024 was the hottest year at about 1.55 degrees C above the pre-industrial average.

Governments pledged under ⁠the ​2015 Paris Agreement to try ​to avoid exceeding 1.5 degrees C of global warming.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), showers are also possible on Eid-ul-Fitr.

On Saturday, rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is expected in the outskirts of the city, while bright and sunny weather is forecast for the city on Friday.

The PMD noted that the ongoing rainfall has reduced the intensity of the heat across Karachi, providing temporary relief from the sweltering conditions.

In Punjab, Chiniot and Rajanpur experienced pleasant weather due to the showers.

Sindh saw rain in Larkana and Gambat, while icy winds in Haripur and Karak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa made the weather cold, prompting people to wear warm clothing again.

The Meteorological Department has forecast intermittent rainfall across these provinces over the next few days.

Deputy Director Anjum Nazir said westerly winds will affect Karachi from tomorrow, with moderate to heavy rainfall expected in the city.

Hail is also possible in different districts of Sindh on March 18 and 19.

The Meteorological Department urged farmers to take precautions and manage crops according to the upcoming weather conditions.

The ​quake had a ‌depth ⁠of 15 ​km (9.3 ​miles), ⁠EMSC said.

Temperatures in Galiyat have fallen below the freezing point.

The Meteorological Department predicts rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds over the next 24 hours.

• Heavy rains ​triggered a series ​of landslides in different parts ⁠of the Gamo Zone.
• As ​of last Thursday, authorities had confirmed ​70 deaths.
• On Sunday, the South Ethiopia regional government gave a ​higher death toll of ​125.
• More than 11,000 people have been ‌displaced, ⁠the regional government’s communications office said in a statement on its Facebook ​account.
• Prime Minister ​Abiy ⁠Ahmed visited the scene of the landslides ​on Saturday to ​console residents and pledged government support, according ⁠to ​a post on ​his X account on Saturday.

The Meteorological Department has forecast intermittent rain over the next 24 hours.

The residents enjoyed the sudden drop in temperature and rainy conditions.

Residents reported feeling the tremors in the affected areas, causing concern among locals.

The seismological centre said the earthquake had a magnitude of 4, while its depth was recorded at 10 kilometres.

According to the centre, the epicentre of the earthquake was located about 100 kilometres south of Karachi.

The reports of tremors were received from Landhi Khurramabad, Malir and Korangi, the seismological centre added.

After the recent rain spell, Lahore’s weather has started shifting from hot to moderate, with residents feeling a slight chill during the morning and evening hours.

Many citizens are now hoping for more rain and cooler weather during Eid-ul-Fitr.

The meteorological department has forecast another spell of rain.

Meteorologist Muhammad Faisal said westerly winds would start affecting Lahore and several districts of Punjab from Saturday evening, bringing light to heavy rainfall.

He added that after a brief pause, another rain system is expected which may bring cooler conditions around Eid.

The temperature in Lahore on Saturday is expected to range between 17°C and 31°C, while humidity has been recorded at 43 per cent.

The eastern region of Mecca, including Taif and Abha, experienced intense downpours that inundated streets and affected daily life, while plains and open areas were blanketed with hail.

Authorities have warned residents to remain cautious as extreme weather conditions continue to impact travel and local infrastructure.

Soon after the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for the area on Friday, videos on social media claiming to be from the towns of Three ​Rivers and Union City showed massive whirlwinds tearing roofs off buildings ​and lifting debris into the air.

Local media footage showed smashed buildings ⁠and cars, and poles, trees and road signs that had been blown ​over.

Three fatalities and a dozen injuries were reported in Branch County, where Union ​City is located, the county’s sheriff’s office said.

One person was killed and several were injured in Cass County, according to local authorities there.

“Multiple large structures — including homes and pole barns - ​sustained damage ranging from major structural impacts to destruction,” according to ​a statement on a website for Cass County.

Power outages had affected hundreds of people, local ‌officials ⁠said.

“We have multiple utility poles down, transformers damaged, and long stretches of power lines on the ground. The north side of Union Lake sustained some of the most severe damage, with roughly two miles of line brought ​down in that area ​alone,” according to ⁠a posting on Union City’s official Facebook page that said restoration may take several days.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said ​she activated a State Emergency Operations Centre for monitoring ​the situation.

“The ⁠state is ready to fulfil any resource requests that may arise. We’ve yet to receive any just yet.

It’s sounding like the local response is and ⁠has ​been able to address what’s been a very ​devastating afternoon and evening in southwest Michigan,“ Clayton Cummins, a spokesperson for Michigan emergency services and ​police, told Reuters.

A spokesperson said a significant increase in temperature is expected in the plains over the next few days, with temperatures projected to rise by six to eight degrees Celsius. The PDMA said the surge in heat could impact human health and crops.

Meanwhile, the department warned of possible rain accompanied by thunder in the upper and northern regions.

The Rain is forecast in the upper areas on March 6 and 7, while northern areas may experience rainfall from March 9 to 11.

Director General of PDMA has instructed relevant agencies to remain alert and implement pre-emptive measures to address potential impacts.

The state fire department confirmed the deaths happened in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Uba, about 110 km apart.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva offered his condolences in a post on X.

“Our focus is to ensure humanitarian assistance, the restoration of basic services, support for displaced people, and aid for reconstruction,” he wrote.

About 440 people have been displaced in Juiz de Fora, the city hall said, as the rain triggered flooding and landslides and forced the suspension of classes in municipal schools.

Specialised teams have mobilised to respond to incidents and search for missing people, it added.

The state fire department said 134 officials were deployed to Juiz de Fora and Uba.

“It’s a precarious situation; many people are missing.

But by helping each other, we’ll eventually find everyone,“ Gabriel Vitor, a 24-year-old state firefighter deployed to Juiz de Fora, said.

Item 1 of 5 Rescue workers operate after Brazil’s government recognised a state of calamity due to heavy rains, which have killed residents and left people missing, in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, February 24, 2026.

Public calamity

Brazil’s government has recognised a state of calamity in Juiz de Fora, speeding up relief and humanitarian aid, it said in a statement.

Much of Brazil enters the peak of its rainy season during summer, from December to March, bringing frequent intense downpours, thunderstorms, flooding and mudslides.

“It was terrible; words can’t describe how sad it is. Just ask God to find those who survived and to perform a miracle,” said Jaqueline Teixeira, a 45-year-old Juiz de Fora resident.

The Juiz de Fora city hall said this has been the rainiest February in the city’s history, with rainfall already more than double the amount expected for the month.

Mayor Margarida Salomao said in a statement on social media that the situation was “critical.”

Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology on Tuesday issued heavy-rain alerts for parts of 14 states, including the entire area of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.

According to the report, a large layer of red dust rising from the Sahara Desert is moving towards the UK through Europe.

When this dust mixes with ongoing rain, the rainfall may appear red, a phenomenon commonly referred to as blood rain.

Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at the European Environment Agency, said the red sand will mostly pass over southern England at high altitudes.

He said that despite its appearance, the phenomenon is not expected to pose a risk to human health and may only leave a light layer of sand on vehicles and open surfaces.

Scientists say the event is linked to sand lifted by strong desert winds, which can travel north when upper air currents move in that direction.

The dust can originate from seasonal biomass burning in the equatorial region of Africa.

According to the European Environment Agency report, the red rain is expected on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at noon and could last for about two hours.

The UK Met Office has also confirmed that the rainy season is likely to continue until mid-March 2026.

Experts have stressed that there is no need for concern, as the main impact is expected to be a thin layer of sand on vehicles and exposed surfaces.

Thousands of homes and businesses were without power, and officials, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, ordered residents to stay off the roads so emergency crews could clear the streets. Many schools were closed throughout the region.

“I’m urging every New Yorker to please stay home,” Mamdani said.

More than 15 inches (38 centimetres) of snow had fallen on New York City’s Central Park by 8 a.m. Eastern time on Monday and another 5 to 6 more inches (13-15 centimetres) are expected to fall before the storm tapers off by late afternoon, said Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Centre.

Winds can blow snowdrifts several feet high.

“It’s a pretty big storm, and it’s definitely a blizzard” with wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph (64-100 kph) from Delaware to New York City to Boston, Oravec said. “It’ll probably take a week to dig out.”

Boston has received about 6 inches so far, but much of Delaware and southern New England have already received 12 to 18 inches, and Philadelphia has already received a foot of snow.

The storm is expected to taper off in New York City by Monday afternoon but Boston and upper New England will see snow through Monday night.

Many were astounded by the depth of the snowfall. In her 20 years or so living in New Hyde Park, on hard-hit Long Island, Sandra Wu has never seen a winter storm this bad. Her family cannot open the front door and can barely see out of some windows because of the high snowdrifts.

“My husband went out early through the garage to start digging us out, but it was pointless,” Wu said.

Wu, 53, a veterinarian, said the storm, which had dropped about 18 inches of snow, reminds her of the storms in the 1990s when she lived in Buffalo, New York, which gets an average annual snowfall of 92 inches.

Her two children, ages 13 and 5, were thrilled to have a snow day off from school, so they slept in.

“We thought we’d lose power, thankfully not,” she said. “So we’re baking today. There’s nothing else to do while we wait for the snow to stop.”

REGIONAL EMERGENCIES

At least seven U.S. states had declared states of emergency in response to the storm as of Monday.

Airlines had cancelled more than 5,700 flights by Monday morning and delayed another 900, according to the tracking site FlightAware.com. More than 1,600 Tuesday flights had already been cancelled, according to the site. Most of the cancellations and delays were in the northeastern U.S., including New York’s John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports, Boston’s Logan Airport, and New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had activated 100 National Guard members to assist in Long Island, New York City and the lower Hudson Valley, areas expected to bear the brunt of the heavy snow and coastal winds. The storm forced the closure of the U.N. headquarters complex in Manhattan on Monday.

Parts of the Northeast could see up to two feet of snow, and wind gusts could reach 70 mph, raising the risk of falling trees and power outages, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

In an update on Sunday, the agency said despite its ongoing funding lapse, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster‑response work continues uninterrupted, including staff travel, emergency operations and critical assistance for people affected by active disasters, with life safety and property protection remaining top priorities.

Last week, Reuters reported the Trump administration had ordered FEMA to suspend the deployment of hundreds of aid workers to disaster-affected areas around the country while the DHS is shut down.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared an emergency and told state workers to stay home. Connecticut barred commercial vehicles from limited-access highways, exempting only emergency and essential deliveries.

Train and bus commuter lines in New Jersey were halted, while the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority said it would suspend all service from Sunday night through Monday and would announce plans to resume service only when conditions improve.

Even some ships were caught by the storm. Wu said her elderly in-laws were stuck on a cruise ship docked in New York Harbour, which cannot start sailing to the Bahamas on a planned vacation.

But Wu said they were enjoying themselves despite the delay.

“They are having the best time with 20 of their friends, eating well with plenty of entertainment,” while they wait for the storm to pass, Wu said.