New York Mayor Zahran Mamdani on Sunday ordered the city’s entire traffic network to be closed except for emergency travel ahead of a massive snowstorm expected to hit the northeastern United States.
Tens of millions of Americans from Washington, D.C., to the northern state of Maine, prepared for the storm, with expectations of up to two feet of snow falling in some areas.
The National Weather Service said blizzard conditions will “quickly set in” from Maryland into southeastern New England, making travel “extremely dangerous.”
She added that snow could fall at a rate of two to three inches per hour at the height of the storm, with nearly 54 million people in its path.
Meteorologists said the power outage was likely due to heavy snow and strong winds.
In New York, which has a population of more than eight million people, Mamdani said that streets, highways and bridges will be closed from nine o’clock on Sunday evening until Monday afternoon.
“New York City has not faced a storm of this size in the last decade,” he said, explaining the emergency.
“We ask New Yorkers to avoid all non-essential travel.”
The ban will not affect essential workers or New Yorkers who need to travel due to emergencies, according to Mamdani.
– ‘The worst is yet to come’ –
New Jersey Governor Mickey Sherrill declared a state of emergency starting at midday Sunday, freeing up funds and allowing the rapid deployment of resources to address the weather crisis.
In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu closed all public schools and municipal buildings on Monday.
“We ask everyone to plan ahead, stay safe and warm, and stay off the roads to help our public businesses and public safety efforts,” Wu said.
The National Weather Service said “moderate to major” coastal flooding is possible affecting roads and waterfront properties from Delaware to Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
The storm comes just weeks after the region recovered from another devastating weather system linked to more than 100 deaths.
“The worst is yet to come,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said at a news conference on Sunday.
“Whatever you need, any groceries, any medications you need refilled at the pharmacy, any pet food you need, do it now.”
Then she advised: “Just settle down.”
“Watch more Olympics, read a book, follow the news, call your family members, call your mothers and especially your mothers.”
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