New York City has ground to a halt under a ferocious winter storm battering the US Northeast, prompting officials to slap a rare travel ban on non-essential vehicles and shutter all public schools. The blizzard, packing heavy snow and howling winds, has created hazardous conditions across the region as of February 24, 2026.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani activated a state of emergency late Sunday, banning all non-essential travel until at least noon Monday to prioritize emergency crews and plows. This marks one of the strictest measures in years, echoing past storms but amplified by this event's ferocity. Public schools ditched classes entirely—no remote learning here—giving kids a full snow day reminiscent of pre-pandemic eras. City services pivoted to remote operations, with the mayor pleading: "Stay off the roads—let our teams work." Residents report mixed feelings; some welcome the break, while essential workers scramble amid blocked routes.

The chaos ripples outward: Governor Kathy Hochul mobilized National Guard units to key areas like Long Island and the Hudson Valley. New Jersey mirrored the moves, halting all NJ Transit rail and buses. Air travel cratered with thousands of cancellations at major hubs—JFK, Newark, LaGuardia—stranding passengers nationwide. Subways crawl with delays, LIRR service vanished, and even the United Nations in Midtown shut its doors. Boston joined in, closing schools and urging hunkering down.

Locals and visitors paint a vivid picture: fresh snow blanketing Times Square drew awed tourists, but gridlock and isolation dominate. Hochul advised stocking essentials then relaxing with books or calls home—a human touch in the headlines. Forecasters eye up to 15 inches of accumulation, building on recent deadly storms and spotlighting urban climate vulnerabilities. Trackers like NWS apps offer real-time intel for safer prep next round.