New York City mayor declares travel ban as historic blizzard approaches

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a citywide travel ban and state of emergency Sunday as a severe winter storm approached the nation's most populous city.

The travel ban takes effect at 9 p.m. Sunday and remains in effect until noon Monday. During this period, all city streets, highways, and bridges will be closed to non-emergency traffic, including automobiles, trucks, scooters, and electric bicycles.

Mamdani warned that the city faces conditions of exceptional severity. "The city of New York has not faced a storm of this magnitude in the last decade," he said during a press conference Sunday afternoon, urging residents to "avoid all non-essential travel."

Forecasters predict the blizzard will bring up to 24 inches of snow across the city, accompanied by intense winds and extreme weather conditions. The mayor instructed residents to prepare for the hazardous circumstances expected during the storm's passage.

In response to the anticipated disruption, the New York City Department of Education announced a full snow day for Monday, the first since 2019. Schools across all five boroughs will be closed.

The emergency declaration came one day after New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill each declared states of emergency in their respective states in preparation for the snowstorm.

Only essential travel and emergency vehicles will be permitted on city streets during the ban period. The closure applies to all major transportation corridors serving the metropolitan area of more than eight million residents.