Historic nor'easter hits US Northeast: NYC travel ban, 54M under blizzard warning, 3,500 flights cancelled. 24-inch snow forecast.
Winter Storm Northeast US NYC Travel Ban Blizzard Warning 2026 Nor'easter Snow Forecast (Image: X)
A powerful winter storm has placed 54 million people under blizzard warnings across the US Northeast. New York City issued a full travel ban as the nor'easter approaches, prompting states of emergency in multiple states including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
This storm ranks as the most powerful nor'easter in nearly a decade for the densely populated Northeast. Forecasters expect heavy snow, fierce winds up to 70 mph, and coastal flooding from the Central Appalachians to coastal Maine. The storm's low center develops late Sunday afternoon into evening. About 35 million face blizzard warnings, while 19 million more sit under winter storm warnings.
Meteorologist Cody Snell from the National Weather Service called it rare. He noted to CBS News that few storms match this magnitude across such a vast, populated region in recent years.
New York City expects 18-24 inches of snow in the metro area, with up to 28 inches in spots and temperatures plunging to the 20s F. Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency. He announced schools closed and a travel ban from 9 p.m. EST Sunday to noon EST Monday. Only emergency vehicles can use streets, highways, and bridges.
This marks the first NYC blizzard warning in nine years. Mamdani highlighted overnight snowfall as the worst phase. It follows January's deadly cold snap that killed 19 people.
Governors acted swiftly across the region. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a statewide emergency and activated 100 National Guard members. She warned Long Island, NYC, and the lower Hudson Valley face the storm's eye, predicting power outages and darkness.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued an emergency and halted transit at 6 p.m. ET for buses, light rail, and Access Link. She called it potentially the worst since 1996. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont banned commercial vehicles on highways from 5 p.m. ET. Massachusetts, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania followed with declarations or disaster orders. Boston closed schools too.
More than 3,500 US flights stand cancelled for Sunday, with hundreds delayed, per FlightAware. New Jersey transit shuts down fully. Connecticut blocks trucks statewide. Canadian Maritimes, especially Nova Scotia's east coast, face orange weather warnings from Monday into Tuesday.
Officials urge staying home amid downed trees, outages, and coastal threats.
| Storm Impacts by Area | Details |
|---|---|
| NYC Metro | 18-24 inches snow; full travel ban 9pm Sun-12pm Mon |
| New York State | National Guard activated; 65-70 mph coastal gusts |
| New Jersey | Transit halt 6pm ET; "worst since 1996" |
| Connecticut | Commercial vehicle ban 5pm ET |
| Total Affected | 54M under warnings; 3,500+ flights cancelled |
A: 18-24 inches expected, up to 28 in some areas.
A: 9 p.m. EST Sunday to noon EST Monday; emergencies only.
A: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania.
A: Over 3,500 for Sunday.
A: Yes, Nova Scotia under orange warnings Monday-Tuesday.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
