Blizzard Shuts Down New York City and Batters the Northeast With Heavy Snow

A major winter storm brought blizzard conditions to the Northeast on Monday, with New York City ordering non-essential traffic off its roads and tens of millions of people in the storm’s path, according to Al Jazeera and France 24.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a local state of emergency and a travel ban. NYC.gov, France 24, Fox 5 New York and Ynetnews each reported that city streets, highways and bridges were closed to non-emergency traffic from 9 p.m. Sunday until noon Monday. The city’s notice listed exemptions for emergency and government vehicles, public transit, essential workers and vehicles delivering food, fuel or medical supplies. All New York City public school buildings were closed Monday, except those serving as warming centers, with no remote instruction.

The National Weather Service expected gusts of up to 60 mph late Sunday into Monday, France 24 reported, and Al Jazeera said snowfall could reach 3 inches an hour at times. France 24 put the peak rate at two to three inches an hour. Fox 5 New York reported forecast totals of 18 to 24 inches for the New York City area and 20 to 30 inches in parts of New Jersey, and France 24 and Ynetnews said some areas could see up to two feet. France 24 said the agency also warned of moderate to major coastal flooding from Delaware to Cape Cod.

Blizzard warnings covered New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and coastal Connecticut, according to Fox 5 New York, while France 24 said the weather service expected blizzard conditions to develop quickly from Maryland to southeastern New England.

Governors also acted. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency, as France 24, Fox 5 and Time reported, and Fox 5 and Time said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared emergencies as well.

Power and travel were already disrupted. At least 22,895 customers in New Jersey were without power as of 7:30 p.m. Sunday, according to poweroutage.us figures cited by France 24 and Al Jazeera. Time reported more than 3,000 U.S. flight cancellations on Sunday, and Ynetnews put the figure near 4,000.

Ynetnews reported that the storm was expected to subside Monday afternoon, with the travel ban due to lift at noon. Officials urged residents to avoid all non-essential travel, and the city’s public schools were to remain closed for the day.