Winter Storm Jonas turned much of the East Coast into a winter wonderland, but from high above earth’s surface, our planet looked something like a snow globe. Everyone’s favorite astronaut Scott Kelly, who recently celebrated his 300th day in space, sent some pretty phenomenal shots of our beautiful planet from his miles-high vantage point, and as it turns out, Jonas’ power was palpable even from the International Space Station.
Massive #snowstorm blanketing #EastCoast clearly visible from @Space_Station! Stay safe! #blizzard2016 #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/oq6ewYaTPQ
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 23, 2016
Kelly’s photos are a rare look at what Mother Nature looks like in action from above the ground, and the phenomenon itself, known as a “thundersnow,” is also an unusual occurrence. Whereas most thunder-related weather incidents bring rain with them, this weekend’s storms brought a frozen form of precipitation in their wake, hence the name “thundersnow.”
As #blizzard2016 passes over #Chicago, the #EastCoast seen in distance clearly has a long way to go. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/qMrkTXo9ie
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 23, 2016
Kelly also posted photos of the blizzard as it made its way over Chicago, noting that “the East Coast seen in the distance clearly has a long way to go.”
The pictures continued to get more impressive as time wore on, as the storm truly began to cause major damage across much of the eastern seaboard.
Rare #thundersnow visible from @Space_Station in #blizzard2016! #Snowzilla #snowmaggedon2016 #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/l3p6hjnJOq
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 23, 2016
Winter Storm Jonas, which was widely expected to be one of the worst climate events in recent memory, lived up to those terrible expectations, dumping a startling 42 inches of snow in areas of West Virginia. In New York City, the city that never sleeps came to a virtual standstill, as MTA bus services and outdoor subway stations were shut down.
And even now, as residents of the areas hardest hit begin to emerge, traveling over the next few days could prove dicey. The Weather Channel reports that at least 27 people have died from weather-related incidents thus far, so stay safe friends — the storm may be over, but the danger isn’t.
