The Mayor of New York City announced a shutdown of the entire city traffic network except for emergency travel after a major snowstorm began battering the northeastern United States on Sunday.
The order took effect from 9:00 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday, covering roads, highways, and bridges throughout New York City, which has a population of over 8 million. The mayor stated that New York has not faced a storm of this magnitude in more than a decade and urged residents to avoid all non-essential travel.
The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) warned that this storm will produce a full-scale blizzard from Maryland to southeastern New England, with snow expected to fall heavily at rates of 5–7.5 centimeters per hour during peak times. Some areas may accumulate over 60 centimeters. Nearly 54 million people are in the storm's path, which includes gusts reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour.
Reports indicated that by Sunday evening local time, the storm had begun pelting New York City, with visibility dropping drastically—making the Wall Street skyscrapers nearly invisible from Brooklyn.
In New Jersey, as of 7:30 p.m., over 22,895 customers were without power due to heavy snow and strong winds. Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency to expedite the allocation of budget and resources to address the crisis.
In Massachusetts, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ordered all public schools and government buildings closed on Monday and urged residents to stay home for their safety.
The National Weather Service also warned of the possibility of moderate to severe coastal flooding from Delaware to Cape Cod in Massachusetts. This storm comes just weeks after the same region was recovering from another winter storm that caused over 100 fatalities.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned residents that the worst is yet to come and advised them to stock up on food, medicine, and pet supplies before staying indoors.
Despite the travel ban, some residents expressed concern. A 33-year-old Brooklyn resident said that while roads are closed, workplaces remain open, putting many in difficult situations as they are unable to take time off work.
.Source:channelnewsasia
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