NY Mayor Zohran Mamdani orders citywide travel ban ahead of major US storm

NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani on Sunday ordered the shutdown of the city’s entire traffic network for all but emergency travel ahead of a massive snowstorm expected to hit the northeast United States.

Tens of millions of Americans from Washington, D.C. to the state of Maine braced for the storm, with up to two feet (60 centimetres) of snow forecast in some areas.

The National Weather Service said blizzard conditions would “quickly materialise” from Maryland up to southeastern New England, making travel “extremely treacherous.” Snow could fall at a rate of two to three inches per hour at the peak of the storm, with nearly 54 million people in its path.

Forecasters warned that heavy snow and strong wind gusts were likely to trigger widespread power outages.

In New York City, home to more than eight million people, Zohran Mamdani said streets, highways and bridges would be shut down from 9:00pm Sunday until noon Monday under a state of emergency.

“New York City has not faced a storm of this scale in the last decade,” he said, urging residents to avoid all non-essential travel. The ban will not affect essential workers or those travelling due to emergencies.

In neighbouring New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency beginning midday Sunday, allowing the swift deployment of resources to address the crisis.

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In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu announced the closure of all public schools and municipal buildings on Monday, advising residents to stay off the roads.

The National Weather Service also warned of “moderate to major” coastal flooding from Delaware up to Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

The storm comes just weeks after the region recovered from another devastating weather system linked to more than 100 deaths.

“The worst is yet to come,” Kathy Hochul told a press briefing, urging residents to stock up on groceries, medicines and other essentials before settling in at home.