A significant winter storm has severely impacted much of the Northeastern United States, prompting thousands of flight cancellations, power outages, and travel restrictions. Since Sunday, nearly 9,000 flights have been canceled and more than 8,000 delayed, causing disruptions at major airports including John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Boston Logan, Newark Liberty, and Philadelphia International.
The National Weather Service has forecast blizzard conditions with snowfall totals reaching up to 20 inches in New York City over a 24-hour period from Sunday through Monday evening. Other areas, such as parts of New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, may receive up to 25 inches of snow. The severe weather has led to dangerous travel conditions and whiteout visibility in some locations.
In response, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and imposed a travel ban starting at 9 p.m. Sunday, lasting until midday Monday. The ban restricts all traffic on city streets, highways, and bridges. Furthermore, New York City public schools will be closed for a full snow day, with no remote learning. The city also suspended DoorDash deliveries beginning Sunday night.
Additional states including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut have issued states of emergency, enforcing bans on commercial vehicles and other travel limitations to ensure public safety. In Philadelphia, Mayor Cherelle Parker announced a state of emergency, deploying approximately 1,000 personnel and over 800 pieces of equipment such as snowplows and salt spreaders to help manage the storm’s effects.
As of Monday morning, more than 450,000 people remained without power, with New Jersey accounting for over 122,000 affected customers. NJ Transit announced suspensions of all rail, bus, and paratransit services until weather conditions improve.
Airport operations have been heavily disrupted, with LaGuardia reporting 98% of Monday’s flights canceled. Additionally, the partial federal government shutdown led the Department of Homeland Security to suspend Global Entry services, though TSA PreCheck lanes continue operating.
Governors of New York and Massachusetts have activated National Guard units to assist with emergency response efforts as blizzard conditions continue. School districts across affected states have closed for the day, prioritizing safety amid hazardous conditions.
Authorities continue to monitor the storm’s progression while advising residents to stay off roads and adhere to official warnings and travel bans until conditions improve.
