New York Blizzard: new york blizzard prompts city travel ban and widespread outages
A new york blizzard has forced New York City to impose a full travel ban and prompted state and local emergency measures as the storm batters the north-east. The system has produced heavy snow, fierce winds, coastal flooding risk and widespread disruptions across the region.
New York Blizzard travel ban details
A full travel ban is in place in New York City from Sunday evening till noon local time on Monday, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani saying all streets, highways and bridges would be shut to traffic apart from for emergencies and that schools would be closed. Mamdani said the most severe snowfall of up to 28 inches (70cm) was expected overnight into Monday.
Scope of warnings and timing
Some 59 million people are under weather warnings, and states of emergency have been declared across the region. Forecasters say much of the US north-east and Canada’s maritime provinces will be affected from Sunday evening into Monday. Officials expect this to be the most powerful nor'easter in nearly a decade for much of the region, bringing snow, fierce winds and coastal flooding.
Snow totals, rates and local measurements
Much of the north-east had already received several inches of snow, with 10 inches (25cm) recorded in Manorville, New York, and Howell, New Jersey, as of midnight local time (05: 00 GMT on Monday). The US National Weather Service (NWS) warned the storm could produce an estimated 2-3 inches per hour, with snowfall reaching 1-2ft (30-60cm) in places and creating what the NWS described as "nearly impossible" travel conditions that were "extremely treacherous. "
Power outages and high winds
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). New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the whole state and put 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. People will be in the dark. Long Island and New York City and lower Hudson are literally in the direct eye of the storm. " Across the state, the highest wind gusts—up to 65-70mph (104-112km/h)—were expected along the coast, with officials warning of downed tree limbs and power outages.
Travel, flights and public events
Several states instituted travel restrictions or bans because of the blizzard, and thousands of flights were cancelled. Around 5, 500 US flights were cancelled on Sunday and hundreds of others were delayed; thousands more were cancelled on Monday, with New York's John F Kennedy and LaGuardia airports worst affected. All Broadway shows were cancelled on Sunday evening, and the New York Racing Association cancelled Sunday’s eight horse races at the Aqueduct Racetrack.
Voices from the city and experts
NWS meteorologist Cody Snell said while the region does see nor'easters that produce heavy snow and strong impacts, "it's been several years since we saw one of this magnitude across this large of a region in this very populated part of the country, " telling the 's US partner CBS News that the scale and population affected made this storm particularly notable. Brooklyn resident Brandon Smith said, "It's gonna be difficult for most New Yorkers to get around because we still have to go to work. " He added, "It's unfortunate [roads] are suspended as jobs are not gonna stop calling us in. "
This is the first time in nine years that New York City has been under a blizzard warning, and it is the second major snowstorm of Mamdani's new administration, following a three-week cold snap in January during which 19 people died.
The new york blizzard has prompted widespread cancellations, emergency declarations and pre-positioned National Guard forces as authorities prepare for deep snow, fierce winds and power disruptions across the north-east.
