It was business as usual for all of the major network morning shows on Tuesday morning, despite a massive snowstorm battering New York City.
The lead anchors for Good Morning America, Today and CBS This Morning all made it in to their shows’ respective studios, where the ABC, NBC and CBS morning shows reported on the ongoing storm hitting the Northeast.
On Today, Savannah Guthrie, Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Carson Daly opened the show from outside and continued to brave the snow later by making their traditional trek out to the plaza, where fans also braved the snow to see the morning show in action.
We’re starting the show outside this morning! pic.twitter.com/vceNqgitfG
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 14, 2017
We could all use a friend like @alroker, lending his hat to @CarsonDaly! #noreaster2017 pic.twitter.com/jvpVe3Br1z
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 14, 2017
The show’s Twitter account posted a Periscope video of Roker and Daly talking about their commute. They each shared videos of their snowy rides into work. Roker said his “wasn’t bad” but he found himself a bit concerned when his driver was proceeding particularly slowly and Roker asked if he’d ever driven in snow and he said only once. Daly shared video of his trip in on the Long Island Expressway, with only a couple of other cars on the road.
“It was a little scary but it was actually sort of nice because nobody was on the road,” Daly said. “The key is speed. You just can’t go as fast as you think you can.”
.@alroker and @carsondaly chat about their snowy commutes https://t.co/iz94HqW0CQ
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 14, 2017
On GMA, George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts, Lara Spencer and Michael Strahan reported on the morning’s big news stories and interviewed guests inside the show’s Times Square studio. Meanwhile, meteorologist Ginger Zee was out in Times Square reporting on the storm and tracking local accumulation levels.
NOW ON @GMA: @mcgregor_ewan talks #BeautyandtheBeast & more! @beourguest pic.twitter.com/wTR1jOZtWS
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 14, 2017
WATCH: @ginger_zee talks snow accumulation and timing across the Northeast – here’s what you can expect: https://t.co/MV0he1xk3o pic.twitter.com/D9eBoNwySN
— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 14, 2017
On CBS, Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell were in their usual spots around the anchor desk on CBS This Morning, reporting on the morning’s big developments.
But local fans weren’t able to watch the national programs as all three networks pre-empted regularly scheduled programming for local weather coverage. The shows did keep fans updated via their Twitter accounts, and Today‘s account noted they were streaming the show live for those who couldn’t watch it on TV.
Elsewhere the powerful nor’easter grounded more than 5,000 flights, closed schools in cities big and small and prompted dire warnings to stay off the roads. Nearly 100,000 customers from Virginia to Pennsylvania lost power.
Blizzard warnings were issued for parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.
The storm was expected to unload 12 to 18 inches of snow on the New York City area with wind gusts up to 55 mph. It tracked a little farther west than forecasters originally anticipated, resulting in a sloppy mix of snow and sleet for larger portions of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Nearly 100,000 customers are without power as the storm brings a mix of snow & sleet with strong winds #blizzard2017 https://t.co/X7BdcKzahm pic.twitter.com/HRLNxSRIqX
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) March 14, 2017
The National Weather Service’s office near Philadelphia called the storm “life-threatening” and warned people to “shelter in place.” Coastal flood warnings were in effect from Massachusetts to Delaware.
The flight cancellations included more than 2,800 in the New York City area alone, where about 200 passengers were stranded at Kennedy Airport. Amtrak canceled or modified service up and down the Northeast Corridor. And the above-ground portions of the New York subway system were being shut down.
In the nation’s capital, the federal government announced a three-hour delayed arrival for non-emergency employees, with an option to take the day off or telecommute. Emergency employees were told to report on time unless otherwise directed.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for the entire state and instructed non-essential state employees to stay home.
In Massachusetts, where the forecast called for 12 to 18 inches of snow, Gov. Charlie Baker encouraged motorists to stay off the roads and to take public transit only if absolutely necessary, saying the fast snowfall rates will driving hazardous. Schools in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and elsewhere closed.
The nor’easter comes a week after the region saw temperatures climb into the 60s, and less than a week before the official start of spring.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan urged people not to be lulled into a false sense of security because of the mild winter.
“This is a serious winter storm,” he said, adding that parts of the state could see over a foot of snow. “It’s obviously going to be the biggest event we’ve had this season and people need to be prepared. They need to be safe.”
President Donald Trump tweeted a photo of his Monday evening meeting with Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and the chief of the city’s transit system to discuss storm preparations.
The heaviest snowfall was expected Tuesday morning through the afternoon, with as much as 2 to 4 inches per hour.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said about 700 National Guard members would be deployed along with more than 2,000 snowplows to keep up with the storm.
The Latest: Parts of Atlantic City and other towns in southern New Jersey are dealing with tidal flooding. https://t.co/h45nJjDk1h
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 14, 2017
In Illinois, state police said snowy weather caused two crashes on a Chicago expressway that involved a total of 34 cars. Seven people suffered minor injuries.
The snow threat led college basketball teams to alter their March Madness travel plans. Villanova, top overall seed in the men’s NCAA Tournament, left Philadelphia on Monday afternoon for Buffalo, New York, to get ahead of the storm.
But teams in the men’s and women’s tournaments rely on chartered flights, so any backlog at commercial airlines shouldn’t be a problem.
This article was originally published on The Hollywood Reporter.