New York City Braces for Historic Blizzard, Mayor Orders Travel Ban
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday ordered a temporary ban on travel across the city’s five boroughs as a powerful blizzard descends upon the region, threatening to dump up to 60 centimeters of snow and disrupt life for millions. The travel ban takes effect at 9 p.m. Sunday and will remain in place until noon Monday.
“New York City hasn’t experienced a storm of this magnitude in the last decade,” Mamdani warned during a press conference, urging residents to avoid all non-essential travel.
The city declared a state of emergency in anticipation of extreme weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and strong winds. The ban will close city streets, highways, and bridges to all traffic – including cars, trucks, scooters, and electric bikes – with limited exceptions for essential and emergency personnel.
Authorities are forecasting between 45 and 60 centimeters of snow, with some areas potentially receiving over 70 centimeters, beginning Sunday evening and continuing through Monday. Powerful winds are also expected to accompany the storm.
The impending blizzard comes less than a month after a severe winter storm swept across much of the eastern United States in late January, resulting in over 100 deaths, according to authorities.
Other cities along the East Coast, including Boston, are also preparing for extreme weather. The current storm highlights the increasing frequency of severe weather events, a phenomenon scientists link to climate change.
The mayor’s office has not yet announced decisions regarding public schools.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as they become available.
(Reporting by The Associated Press. Material from Le Monde and AFP was used in this report.)
