- Power outages likely due to heavy snow and high winds.
- Nearly 54 million people are in the storm’s path from Washington to Maine.
- Blizzard conditions expected, travel described as “extremely treacherous.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday ordered the closure of the city’s entire traffic network for all but emergency travel ahead of a massive snowstorm expected to hit the northeastern United States.
Tens of millions of Americans from the US capital, Washington, to the northern state of Maine braced for the storm, with up to two feet (60 centimeters) of snow in some areas.
The National Weather Service said blizzard conditions would “quickly materialize” from Maryland up into southeastern New England, making travel “extremely treacherous.”
Snow could fall at a rate of two to three inches per hour at the peak of the storm, with nearly 54 million people in its path, it said.
Power outages are likely due to heavy snow and strong winds, forecasters said.
In New York, which has more than eight million people, Mamdani said streets, freeways and bridges would be shut down from 6 p.m. 21:00 Sunday (0200 GMT) to Monday noon.
“New York City has not faced a storm of this scale in the last decade,” he said, explaining the state of emergency.
“We are asking New Yorkers to avoid all non-essential travel.”
The ban will not affect essential workers or New Yorkers who need to travel for emergencies, according to Mamdani.
‘The worst is yet to come’
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency starting at noon Sunday, freeing up funds and allowing for the rapid deployment of resources to deal with the weather crisis.
In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu closed all public schools and municipal buildings on Monday.
“We’re asking everyone to plan ahead, stay safe and warm and stay off the roads to help our public works and public safety efforts,” Wu said.
The National Weather Service said “moderate to major” coastal flooding affecting roads and waterfront properties was possible from Delaware up 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 Gov. Kathy Hochul told a news briefing Sunday.
“Whatever you need—any grocery, any medication you need to fill up at the pharmacy, any pet food you need—do it right now.”
So, she advised, “just settle in.”
“Watch some more Olympics, read a book, catch up on the news, call your family members, call your moms — especially your moms.”
