This powerful storm hit the East Coast from Virginia to Maine, dropping nearly three feet of snow and shutting down travel.
Meteorologists say the storm was a nor’easter. That means it tracked along the East Coast and pulled in cold air and ocean moisture: the perfect setup for heavy snow.
It also became a bomb cyclone. That happens when a storm strengthens very quickly. In this case, the air pressure dropped more than 40 millibars in just 24 hours, a sign of explosive growth and stronger winds.
It also met the official definition of a blizzard. That requires winds over 35 miles per hour and very low visibility for at least three hours.
The result was one of the most intense winter storms the Northeast has seen in about decades.