Historic Storm Paralyzes Northeastern US and Leads New York Mayor to Impose Travel Ban FEB 24, 2026
- Ana Cunha-Busch
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Historic Storm Paralyzes Northeastern US and Leads New York Mayor to Impose Travel Ban
A powerful winter storm hit the Northeastern United States over the weekend, leading authorities to declare states of emergency, cancel thousands of flights, paralyze highways, and, in New York, order a widespread restriction on movement in the city.
An Unusual Storm
The meteorological phenomenon — classified by weather services as a severe snowstorm that hit parts of the country's east coast — brought significant snow accumulations, strong winds, and conditions that made daily life difficult for millions of people.
According to official records and estimates from weather services, some areas of the Northeast received more than 50 cm of snow in a few hours, with New York City recording more than 45 cm in parts of the city, forcing transportation networks and airports to suspend much of their activity.
The consequences were dramatic: more than 8,000 flights were canceled across the country, trains were paralyzed, and hundreds of thousands of homes were left without electricity in the hardest-hit regions.
Traffic Restriction and State of Emergency
On Sunday night, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a local state of emergency and implemented a ban on movement for most vehicles in the city, in effect from late Sunday night until early Monday afternoon. Only essential traffic—such as emergency services, public transportation, and rescue vehicles—was allowed on the roads.
Mamdani warned that the city had not faced a storm of this magnitude in more than a decade and asked residents to avoid non-essential travel to facilitate the work of cleanup and rescue teams.
Transportation Paralyzed and Logistical Challenges
Major air routes serving the Northeast, such as JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports, were severely affected: most flights were canceled or delayed, and hundreds of additional flights in cities like Boston and Philadelphia also faced disruptions.
Highways and rail transport were virtually inoperable in several sections, reinforcing the severe impact of the storm on one of the most densely populated regions of the United States.
City Response and Resumption of Activities
As the storm began to weaken, authorities lifted the travel ban and began efforts to restore urban mobility. The mayor announced that some restrictions had been eased, although he maintained a warning for residents to continue avoiding travel until conditions improve.
Cleanup crews used tens of thousands of tons of salt and snow removal equipment to make roads passable again, while support centers were mobilized to accommodate vulnerable people.
Climate and Social Implications
Climate experts observe that extreme weather events — such as intense snowstorms — are consistent with patterns of climate variability amplified by global warming, which intensifies temperature and precipitation oscillations across large regions of the planet. While it is not possible to directly attribute a single episode to climate change without specific scientific analysis, a recorded series of extreme events points to an increase in the frequency and severity of these episodes in temperate latitudes.
In addition to the immediate impacts on transportation and public services, storms of this type also pose challenges to urban resilience, energy infrastructure, and social systems that serve vulnerable populations, issues that are gaining increasing attention in debates on climate adaptation and urban sustainability.
The Green Amazon News – International
This text was compiled using public data, scientific reports, and information from meteorological institutions.
The Green Amazon News — All rights reserved.
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