A powerful winter storm swept across the northeastern United States on Sunday, prompting widespread blizzard warnings, emergency travel bans, and mass cancellations of flights, public events, and school classes from Maryland to Massachusetts.
Snow began falling across New Jersey and New York as the storm moved north, with the National Weather Service forecasting between 1 and 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters) of snowfall in many areas. Heavy winds and near-zero visibility raised concerns about whiteout conditions and prolonged power outages.
Blizzard warnings were issued for New York City, Long Island, Boston, and coastal regions of Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. States across the region declared emergencies as authorities urged residents to remain indoors and avoid all non-essential travel.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a major nor’easter and blizzard of this magnitude,” said Cody Snell of the Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, calling the storm a “major impact event” for the Northeast.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a ban on all non-emergency travel from Sunday night through midday Monday, warning residents via emergency alerts to stay off the roads due to “dangerous blizzard conditions.” Similar travel restrictions were introduced in parts of Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.
The storm disrupted air travel nationwide, with more than 3,500 flights canceled and thousands delayed, according to FlightAware. Airports in New York and Boston were among the hardest hit. Even Broadway performances were called off, and delivery services such as DoorDash temporarily suspended operations in New York City.
To the south, major landmarks including Arlington National Cemetery announced closures as the storm advanced.
Meteorologists warned that the most intense snowfall was expected overnight into Monday, with rates of up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) per hour in some areas. Strong wind gusts threatened to cause widespread tree damage and power outages, particularly southeast of the Boston–Providence corridor.
The storm was also expected to meet the criteria of a “bomb cyclone,” a rapidly intensifying weather system marked by a sharp drop in atmospheric pressure.
Mayor Mamdani canceled all in-person and virtual public school classes for Monday, calling it New York City’s “first old-school snow day since 2019,” while city officials mobilized snowplows, hired additional shovel crews, and expanded outreach to move homeless residents into shelters and warming centers.
Across Long Island, snow removal companies prepared for days of continuous work as the storm settled in. “I’m anticipating at least one week of work around the clock,” said John Berlingieri, owner of Berrington Snow Management.
As the storm continued to batter the region, authorities warned that recovery efforts could take days, urging residents to remain cautious until conditions improve.
