Winter Storm Stella : Bahrainis in US warned

Washington : Bahraini students in the US have been asked to stay safe as Stella winter storm warning has been issued yesterday. Bahrain’s Embassy in Washington DC said for emergencies Bahraini citizens can contact 202 342-1111 ex.9 or 202 664 6463. Stella is to bring  heavy snow, gusty winds and  low visibility in the Northeastern United states.

Almost all transatlantic flights from the UK to New York, Boston and Philadelphia have been cancelled today because of Winter Storm Stella. Storm  stella is a classic nor'easter bringing strong winds, heavy snow and disruption to the metropolitan centres of the US east coast.

Winter Storm Stella lashed the northeastern United States with sleet and snow Tuesday, cancelling thousands of flights, closing schools and shutting stores, but New York and Washington escaped the worst of the weather.

 Blizzard warnings were issued in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts and upstate New York -- with some areas near the New York state capital of Albany forecast to get up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) of snow overnight into Wednesday.

 But warnings were lifted for New York City, the US financial capital home to 8.4 million residents, where snow turned to sleet and hail.

 Dire forecasts forced the postponement of the first meeting between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington until Friday, but in the end, snowfall in the US capital was light.

The National Weather Service (NWS) drastically revised down New York City's expected accumulation with 7.2 inches recorded in Central Park, and 10-13 inches in parts of neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut.

Instead the trajectory of the storm shifted west and north, bringing heavy snow and strong winds to central parts of New York state and further north.

"The storm is not delivering as much snow as forecasted at all and that is very good for the people of New York City, but the conditions are still very dangerous," Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters.

Temperatures were set to dip below freezing overnight, making roads and sidewalks treacherous, and a city-wide state of emergency would remain in place until midnight (0400 GMT Wednesday).