A powerful winter storm swept across the U.S. Northeast on Monday, forcing widespread school closures, travel disruptions, and emergency measures across multiple states.
New York City, the nation’s largest school district, closed all public schools for a traditional snow day, canceled after-school programs, and advised residents to stay home. Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and restricted non-essential vehicles from city streets to allow plows and emergency crews to clear heavy snowfall.
As reported by Reuters, governors across the region activated National Guard units and declared emergencies. New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed 100 National Guard members to assist areas expected to be hardest hit. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey ordered state workers to stay home, Connecticut barred commercial vehicles from limited-access highways, and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a statewide emergency warning.
Parts of the Northeast could see up to two feet of snow, with wind gusts reaching 70 mph, increasing the risk of falling trees, power outages, and dangerous travel, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Air travel was severely affected, with FlightAware reporting more than 5,300 canceled flights for Monday. Airlines, including Republic Airways, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and JetBlue, reported hundreds of cancellations. NJ TRANSIT suspended bus, light rail, and Access Link services statewide until conditions improve. In New England, Rhode Island’s public transit system also halted all services.
Federal emergency operations continued despite funding challenges, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maintaining disaster-response activities to ensure life safety and property protection.
Officials urged residents to stay home, avoid unnecessary travel, and exercise caution until the storm passes.
