New York Blizzard forces travel ban as nor'easter batters north-east US
The new york blizzard prompted a full travel ban in New York City and left tens of thousands of properties without power as a historic nor'easter began lashing the north-east US.
New York Blizzard prompts citywide travel ban
A full travel ban in New York City ran from Sunday evening until noon local time on Monday as the city prepared for 18-24 inches of snow and lows near -6C (20F). Mayor Zohran Mamdani said all streets, highways and bridges would be shut to traffic apart from emergencies and that schools would be closed; he warned the most severe snowfall could reach 28 inches (70cm) overnight into Monday.
Storm scope: warnings, emergency declarations and expected impacts
Some 59 million people were under weather warnings and states of emergency had been declared across the region. Forecasters said much of the US north-east and Canada's maritime provinces would be affected from Sunday evening into Monday, with the system expected to be the most powerful nor'easter in nearly a decade for much of the region, bringing snow, fierce winds and coastal flooding.
Power outages and wind warnings across the region
Nearly 90, 000 properties were without power in New Jersey alone, with tens of thousands more affected in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia as of 03: 00 local time (08: 00 GMT), tracker PowerOutage showed. Officials warned of the highest wind gusts reaching 65-70mph (104-112km/h) along the coast and cautioned residents about downed tree limbs and power outages.
Flights grounded and major events cancelled
FlightAware recorded around 5, 500 US flights cancelled on Sunday, with hundreds delayed; thousands more cancellations followed on Monday, and New York's John F Kennedy and LaGuardia airports were worst affected. All Broadway shows were cancelled on Sunday evening, and the New York Racing Association called off Sunday's eight horse races at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Snow totals, snowfall rates and dire travel warnings
Much of the north-east had already been blanketed in several inches of snow, with 10 inches (25cm) reported in Manorville, New York, and Howell, New Jersey, as of midnight local time (05: 00 GMT on Monday). The US National Weather Service warned the storm could produce 2-3 inches of snow per hour and that snowfall could reach 1-2ft (30-60cm) in places, creating conditions it described as "nearly impossible" and "extremely treacherous. " NWS meteorologist Cody Snell told CBS News that it had been several years since a storm of this magnitude affected such a large and heavily populated region.
Local reaction and state response
Brooklyn resident Brandon Smith told AFP it would be difficult for most New Yorkers to get around because of ongoing work obligations, adding, "It's unfortunate [roads] are suspended as jobs are not gonna stop calling us in. " New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the whole state and placed 100 members of the National Guard on ready alert. Hochul said, "This will be something the likes of which we've not seen in years, " and warned, "People will be in the dark. Long Island and New York City and lower Hudson are literally in the direct eye of the storm. "
Officials and emergency services remained on heightened alert as crews prepared for heavy snow removal, power restoration and responses to downed trees and flooded coastlines.
The travel ban in New York City was scheduled to remain in effect until noon local time on Monday, and forecasters continued to warn that impacts would extend across the north-east and into Canada's maritime provinces from Sunday evening into Monday.
