New York City remained largely paralyzed Monday as a powerful blizzard continued to batter the region, leaving streets empty and public services strained. Snowfall totals reached double digits across the five boroughs, with Staten Island reporting more than 13 inches, the Bronx around 12 inches, and Brooklyn roughly 12 inches. The National Weather Service cautioned that hazardous conditions would persist throughout the day, with wind gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour and reducing visibility to near zero.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s travel ban for nonessential vehicles, in effect from 9 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday, kept most traffic off city streets, allowing plows and emergency crews to operate safely. “All traffic, including bikes, will be banned, except for essential and emergency travel,” city officials noted. Public schools remained closed for the day, marking the first full snow day of the winter, while state waivers allowed the city to count the day without affecting the required instructional calendar. Catholic elementary schools under the Archdiocese of New York also canceled classes.
Power outages affected thousands of residents, with crews working to restore service despite heavy snow and wind. New York City Emergency Management opened additional warming centers to assist those without electricity. Transit service operated on limited schedules, with subways, buses, and Metro-North running slower than normal, and Long Island Rail Road suspended in parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties. Citi Bike and NYC Ferry adjusted operations, and libraries remained closed.
The storm, named Winter Storm Hernando, was described by the National Weather Service as a “bomb cyclone” capable of producing nearly impossible travel conditions. Snow fell at a rate of two to three inches per hour, and forecasters expected total accumulation to reach 20 inches in some areas by late Monday. Airports experienced widespread disruptions, with thousands of flights canceled or delayed, and state authorities declared emergencies across New York and New Jersey to manage the ongoing crisis.
