New York Blizzard Triggers Citywide Travel Ban as Storm Slams the North‑East
The new york blizzard has begun to pummel the US north‑east, prompting a full New York City travel ban and widespread service disruptions as officials brace for historic snowfall, fierce winds and coastal flooding. The immediate restrictions and emergency declarations reflect concerns about nearly impossible travel conditions and large-scale outages across the region.
New York Blizzard travel ban and city closures
New York City imposed a full travel ban from Sunday evening until noon local time on Monday, closing streets, highways and bridges to all non‑emergency traffic. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said schools would be closed and warned that the most severe snowfall—up to 28 inches (70cm)—was expected overnight into Monday. City forecasts anticipated 18–24 inches of snow with temperatures falling as low as -6C (20F).
Mamdani described the measures as necessary to protect residents and crews: all roadways would be shut except for emergencies. The city is under a blizzard warning for the first time in nine years, and this storm marks the second major snow event of Mamdani's new administration after a three‑week cold snap in January that led to 19 deaths.
Power outages across New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia
Widespread power losses have already been recorded as the storm intensifies. Tracker PowerOutage showed nearly 90, 000 properties 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). Officials warned that coastal wind gusts of up to 65–70mph (104–112km/h) could cause downed tree limbs and further outages.
Flights, airports and cancellations at John F Kennedy and LaGuardia
Air travel was hit hard: Monitor FlightAware recorded around 5, 500 US flight cancellations on Sunday and hundreds of delays, with thousands more cancellations on Monday. John F Kennedy and LaGuardia airports were among the worst affected. Across the region, thousands of flights have been cancelled as airlines adjusted schedules in response to the storm.
Forecast: snowfall rates, Manorville and Howell totals, and coastal impact
Forecasters said much of the US north‑east and Canada's maritime provinces would be affected from Sunday evening into Monday. The US National Weather Service warned the storm could drop an estimated 2–3 inches of snow per hour and predicted localized snowfall totals of 1–2 feet (30–60cm). Several inches have already fallen in many places: Manorville, New York, and Howell, New Jersey, each recorded 10 inches (25cm) by midnight local time (05: 00 GMT on Monday).
The NWS characterized travel as likely to become "nearly impossible" and "extremely treacherous" in the worst bands. The storm is being billed as the most powerful nor'easter in nearly a decade for much of the region, with forecasts highlighting dangers from heavy snow, fierce winds and coastal flooding.
Officials' emergency measures: Governor Kathy Hochul, National Guard and local reactions
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the entire state and placed 100 members of the National Guard on ready alert. Hochul warned of prolonged outages and said, "People will be in the dark. Long Island and New York City and lower Hudson are literally in the direct eye of the storm. "
Local disruptions mounted quickly: all Broadway shows were cancelled on Sunday evening, and the New York Racing Association called off Sunday's eight horse races at the Aqueduct Racetrack. In Brooklyn, resident Brandon Smith said many workers still face obligations despite the shutdowns, noting that it would be difficult for New Yorkers to get around because jobs continue to call them in.
States across the north‑east declared emergencies and several enacted travel restrictions or bans as the storm moved in. The combination of rapid snowfall rates, high winds and coastal risk has driven officials to take unprecedented steps to limit movement and protect public safety during the event.
