Monster Blizzard: 59M on Alert, NYC Locked Down
Historic nor’easter storm slams the Northeast, leaving 90K without power as NYC enforces a travel ban. Up to 2ft snow, flights canceled, chaos grows.
A historic winter storm has struck the Northeast US, knocking out power to thousands of properties and prompting a travel ban in New York City.
Nearly 59 million people are under weather warnings, and states of emergency have been declared across the region. Several states have imposed travel restrictions or bans due to the blizzard, while thousands of flights have been canceled.
Forecasters predict that much of the Northeast US and the Canadian Maritimes will be affected from Sunday evening until Monday.
This is expected to be the strongest northeaster storm in nearly a decade for much of the region, bringing snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding.
Much of the Northeast has already been blanketed by several inches of snow, with Manorville, New York, and Howell, New Jersey recording 10 inches (25 cm) of snow by midnight local time (05:00 GMT on Monday).
The US National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the storm would bring about 2-3 inches of snow per hour, and in some places, up to 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) of snow, making travel "nearly impossible" and "very dangerous."
"Although we get a lot of northeasters that bring heavy snow and strong winds, it's been many years since we've seen a storm of this magnitude in this highly populated part of the country."
According to the tracker PowerOutage, nearly 90,000 properties in New Jersey alone were without power, while thousands more were affected in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
Meanwhile, according to monitor FlightAware, nearly 5,500 US flights were canceled and hundreds more delayed on Sunday. Thousands more flights were canceled on Monday, with New York's John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports the hardest hit.
New York City has imposed a complete travel ban from Sunday evening until noon local time on Monday, as the city is expected to receive 18-24 inches of snow and temperatures as low as -6°C (20°F).
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said all roads, highways, and bridges will be closed to traffic except for emergencies, while schools will also remain closed. He said the heaviest snowfall is expected to reach 28 inches (70 cm) by Monday night.
This is the first time in nine years that a blizzard warning has been issued in New York City and the second major blizzard of Mamdani's new administration. The previous three-week cold snap in January killed 19 people.
"Most New Yorkers will have a hard time getting around because we still have to go to work," Brooklyn resident Brandon Smith told AFP.
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All Broadway shows were canceled on Sunday evening due to the northeaster, while the New York Racing Association canceled Sunday's eight horse races at Aqueduct Racetrack.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a statewide emergency ahead of the storm's arrival and placed 100 National Guard members on ready alert.
"It will be something we haven't seen in years," she said. "People will be in the dark. Long Island and New York City and the Lower Hudson are literally in the eye of the storm."
Throughout the state, the strongest winds – up to 65-70 mph (104-112 km/h) – are expected along the coast, with officials warning of downed tree branches and power outages.
Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island all declared states of emergency ahead of the storm. The city of Boston, Massachusetts, closed its schools.
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In Rhode Island, Governor Dan McKee issued a statewide travel ban and authorized the activation of the National Guard if needed. He also closed state government offices on Monday.
"We are asking the people of Rhode Island to take this storm seriously and stay home," he said. "This is a full-blown preparedness measure."
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also suspended service on the state's transportation network beginning Sunday evening, calling the weather "the worst storm we've seen since 1996."
In Connecticut, Governor Ned Lamont signed an emergency order banning all commercial vehicles on highways across the state until further notice.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a disaster declaration ahead of the storm to provide more resources to state agencies.
Although the nation's capital is not expected to be severely affected, school districts near Washington, DC, have announced school closures. Central government offices have delayed reopenings and have advised employees to take unscheduled leave or work remotely due to the weather.
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