Powerful winter storm shuts schools, disrupts travel across US North-east
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Snow covers residential buildings during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City on Feb 22.
PHOTO: REUTERS
NEW YORK - Children across parts of the US North-east will stay home on Feb 23 as a powerful winter storm forced school closures and pushed offices and transit systems onto emergency schedules, with officials across the region warning of heavy snow, strong winds and dangerous travel conditions
The storm has already snarled travel along the East Coast from Washington to New England, with airlines canceling thousands of flights
New York City, the nation's largest school district, ordered all public school buildings closed for a traditional snow day
Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and ordered non-essential vehicles off city roads from Feb 22 night to noon on Feb 23, saying plows and emergency crews needed the streets clear as snowfall intensified. The city is under its first blizzard warning since 2017.
City offices will close for in-person services, and non-essential municipal employees may work remotely. "I'm urging every New Yorker to please stay home," Mr Mamdani said.
Regional emergencies
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had activated 100 National Guard members to assist in Long Island, New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley - areas expected to bear the brunt of the heavy snow and coastal winds. The storm also forced closure of the UN headquarters complex in Manhattan on Feb 23.
Parts of the North-east could see up to 60cm of snow and wind gusts could reach 113kmh, raising the risk of falling trees and power outages, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
People walk on a street as snow falls during a winter storm in New York City on Feb 22.
PHOTO: REUTERS
In an update on Feb 22, the agency said despite its ongoing funding lapse, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster‑response work continues uninterrupted, including staff travel, emergency operations, and critical assistance for people affected by active disasters, with life safety and property protection remaining top priorities.
Last week, Reuters reported that President Donald Trump's administration had ordered FEMA to suspend the deployment of hundreds of aid workers to disaster-affected areas around the country while the DHS is shut down.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared an emergency and told state workers to stay home. Connecticut barred commercial vehicles from limited-access highways on Feb 22 evening, exempting only emergency and essential deliveries.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a statewide emergency effective noon on Feb 22 and urged residents to take the storm seriously. "People need to take this very seriously," she told CNN.
Travel disruptions
Air travel was among the earliest casualties. Flight-tracking site FlightAware showed more than 5,000 flights already canceled for Feb 23.
Chairs are covered in snow in front of a restaurant as snow falls during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City on Feb 22.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Aviation analytics firm Cirium said more than 25,000 flights were scheduled to depart from the United States on Feb 23, with cancellations also rising for Feb 24, especially at major North-east airports.
NJ TRANSIT suspended bus, light rail and Access Link service on Feb 22 evening and halted statewide rail service by the night of Feb 22, with operations resuming only when conditions allow.
In New England, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority said it would suspend all service — including its RIde paratransit program — from Feb 22 night through Feb 23 and would announce plans to resume service only when conditions improve. REUTERS
