Mayor Zohran Mamdani orders a shutdown of all New York City streets, highways and bridges as a major snowstorm threatens the US East Coast.
NEW YORK: Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ordered a citywide travel ban ahead of a major snowstorm expected to batter the US East Coast.
The shutdown of all streets, highways and bridges for non-emergency traffic will begin at 9pm Sunday and last until noon Monday.
“We are asking New Yorkers to avoid all non essential travel,” Mayor Mamdani told reporters. The ban will not affect essential workers or those needing to travel for emergencies.
The mayor declared a state of emergency, warning the city of over eight million people has not faced a storm of this scale in a decade.
Meteorologists have issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six other states. Heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam major cities along the Interstate 95 corridor, including Boston, Philadelphia and Washington.
The National Weather Service warned snowfall rates could exceed one inch per hour, making travel nearly impossible and likely causing power outages.
The fast-developing storm threatens to pummel the region with a foot or more of snow, just weeks after a previous mega-storm linked to over 100 deaths.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill has also declared a state of emergency beginning midday Sunday to free up funds and resources.
