A New York travel ban came into force as a major snowstorm swept across the US Northeast, prompting school closures, widespread flight cancellations and emergency declarations across several states.
Authorities ordered drivers off roads in New York City as heavy snowfall and strong winds intensified on Monday. Tens of millions of people from Washington to Maine were bracing for significant snowfall, with forecasts warning that some areas could receive up to 60 centimetres.
The National Weather Service reported light snow and freezing fog in the early hours, with temperatures around minus one degree Celsius. Forecasters warned that blizzard conditions would rapidly develop from Maryland through southeastern New England, making travel extremely hazardous.
Snowfall rates were expected to reach up to seven centimetres per hour at the height of the storm, affecting nearly 54 million people. Visibility in parts of lower Manhattan deteriorated sharply as the storm intensified, with buildings in the financial district barely visible from across the East River.
Power infrastructure faced mounting pressure. Nearly 80,000 customers in New Jersey were without electricity shortly after 01:39 local time, according to outage tracking data. Forecasters cautioned that heavy snow combined with wind gusts could trigger further outages across the region.
The aviation sector experienced severe disruption. More than 5,000 flights were cancelled nationwide as major airports along the Northeast Corridor scaled back operations.
In New York City, home to more than eight million residents, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that streets, highways and bridges would be closed from 21:00 on Sunday until midday Monday. The travel ban exempted essential workers and emergency travel.
“This city has not faced a storm of this scale in the last decade,” Mamdani said, declaring a state of emergency and urging residents to avoid all non-essential movement.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also declared a state of emergency beginning midday Sunday, enabling the mobilisation of additional resources and funding to manage the weather impact. In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu ordered the closure of public schools and municipal buildings, advising residents to stay off roads to support public safety and emergency response operations.
The National Weather Service warned that high winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour could further complicate conditions, increasing the risk of downed power lines and dangerous driving conditions. Coastal communities from Delaware to Cape Cod faced the threat of moderate to major flooding, particularly along exposed waterfront roads.
The storm struck just weeks after the region recovered from another severe winter system linked to more than 100 fatalities, heightening concern among state and municipal authorities.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul told a press briefing that the most severe impacts were still ahead, urging residents to secure supplies before conditions worsened. She advised households to obtain groceries, medicines and essential items in advance and remain indoors once the storm peaked.
While many commuters faced disruption, some tourists welcomed the snowfall, viewing it as a rare spectacle. However, officials stressed that public safety and infrastructure resilience remained the priority as emergency services prepared for sustained operations throughout the storm’s duration.
The scale of the weather system underscores the increasing strain extreme winter events place on transport networks, energy infrastructure and emergency management systems across the US Northeast. Authorities continue to monitor conditions closely as snowfall intensifies and recovery planning begins.
