New York City Digs Out After Historic Blizzard
New York City is slowly returning to normal after a historic blizzard brought the region to a standstill, shuttering schools, suspending transit, and prompting a citywide travel ban. The storm, described by forecasters as one of the most powerful nor’easters in nearly a decade, dumped significant snowfall across the Northeast, leaving tens of thousands without power.
The blizzard’s impact was felt acutely on Monday, February 23, 2026, when Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and implemented a travel ban beginning at 9 p.m. On Sunday, February 22, 2026. The ban prohibited all vehicles from traveling on city streets, bridges, and highways. Alternate side parking regulations were suspended for Monday.
Public transportation faced widespread disruptions. New York City Transit adjusted subway service, operating most lines locally to accommodate winter weather operations. Road and infrastructure renovation projects scheduled for the weekend were suspended to allow crews to focus on storm response.
The storm forced the closure of New York City public schools for a full day on Monday, February 23, 2026, with classes resuming in-person on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. New York Public Libraries also remained closed on both Sunday, February 22, and Monday, February 23, 2026. NYC Courts were closed on Monday, February 23, 2026, with limited criminal court arraignment parts opening at 2 p.m. Within the five boroughs.
Beyond essential services, cultural institutions and businesses also felt the storm’s impact. All Broadway performances scheduled for Sunday evening were canceled, though matinees before 3 p.m. Proceeded as planned. Several museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art (and The Met Cloisters), The Museum of Modern Art, and The American Museum of Natural History, announced closures for Monday, February 23, 2026.
Delivery services were also affected, with DoorDash suspending operations starting at 8:30 p.m. On Sunday and anticipating a resumption of service around noon on Monday. Sanitation collection services experienced delays.
As of Monday, February 23, 2026, at 3:00 a.m. Local time, nearly 90,000 properties in New Jersey were without power, with tens of thousands more affected in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, according to power outage trackers. The National Weather Service warned that snowfall could reach 1-2 feet in some areas, creating “nearly impossible” and “extremely treacherous” travel conditions.
The storm’s reach extended beyond New York City, impacting the entire tri-state area, and beyond. Officials across the region urged residents to stay home unless absolutely necessary, and thousands of flights were canceled across the region. A similar message was delivered by all tri-state governors.
While the worst of the storm has passed, the region now faces the task of recovery. Mass transit is gradually returning to service, but many trains and buses are still operating on a limited schedule. The full extent of the storm’s impact is still being assessed, but the blizzard will be remembered as one of the most significant weather events in recent years.
