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In anticipation of a formidable blizzard, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a sweeping travel ban set to take effect across the city. This decision comes as part of the city’s broader emergency measures to brace for the impending winter storm expected to strike on Sunday.
During a press briefing, Mayor Mamdani proclaimed a state of emergency, outlining that all city streets, highways, and bridges will be off-limits to non-essential traffic starting at 9 p.m. on Sunday. This restriction will remain effective until noon on Monday, emphasizing the city’s commitment to public safety.
The travel prohibition encompasses all forms of vehicles, including cars, trucks, scooters, and e-bikes. Exceptions are limited to emergency operations and critical service personnel, underscoring the severity of the situation.
The entire Northeast region is bracing for the onslaught of a powerful bomb cyclone, which is forecasted to unleash up to two feet of snow along the heavily trafficked I-95 corridor. Meteorologists caution residents to prepare for wind gusts reaching up to 70 mph and potential widespread power outages as the storm’s intensity peaks on Sunday night.
As the city gears up for this historic weather event, Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the public, reinforcing the importance of these precautions during a news conference. The mayor’s proactive measures aim to safeguard citizens and ensure the city’s resilience in the face of formidable winter conditions.
More than 7,000 flights had been canceled across the Northeast region as of Sunday afternoon.
New York City, Boston and Philadelphia are all projected to receive between 18 and 24 inches of snow.
The nation’s capital is still expected to see 5-8 inches, along with nearby Baltimore, whose projections have come down overnight.
Blizzard warnings currently are in place for 29 million Americans.
New York City on Saturday put out a call for emergency snow shovelers ahead of the storm.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a State of Emergency for New York City, and Mamdani announced outreach teams have been mobilized.
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced Saturday it is recruiting temporary, per diem shovelers to remove snow and ice from public areas, including bus stops, crosswalks, fire hydrants and step streets.
Snow in Prospect Park in Brooklyn on Jan. 17, 2026. (Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
While pay is generous, starting at $19.14 per hour and increasing to $28.71 per hour after the first 40 hours worked in a week, workers must meet a number of requirements to be eligible.
Shovelers must be at least 18 years old, able to perform heavy physical labor and eligible to work in the U.S., according to the department.