US Winter Storm Triggers New York Travel Ban and Thousands of Flight Cancellations

February 23, 2026

A historic winter storm is moving across the northeastern United States, putting around 59 million people under weather warnings and leading to emergency measures, including a full travel ban in New York City.

The powerful nor’easter is expected to be the strongest in nearly a decade for much of the area. It is bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding from Sunday evening into Monday. Several states have declared states of emergency, thousands of flights have been cancelled, and large areas have lost power.

By midnight local time, some areas had recorded significant snowfall, including 10 inches (25 cm) in Manorville, New York, and Howell, New Jersey. The US National Weather Service warned that snowfall rates could reach 2 to 3 inches per hour, with total accumulations of 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) in many places and up to 28 inches (70 cm) in some spots.

Forecasters described travel conditions as nearly impossible and extremely dangerous.

In New York City, a full travel ban was put in place from Sunday evening until noon on Monday. Authorities shut streets, highways, and bridges to non-emergency traffic. Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that schools would close and urged residents to stay indoors as temperatures were predicted to drop to -6°C (20°F).

Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the whole state and put 100 National Guard members on standby. Wind gusts of 65 to 70 mph (104 to 112 km/h) were expected along coastal areas, raising concerns about fallen trees and widespread power outages.

Nearly 90,000 properties in New Jersey lost electricity early Monday, with tens of thousands more affected in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

Air travel has faced severe disruptions, with around 5,500 US flights cancelled on Sunday and thousands more grounded on Monday. New York’s John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports have been among the worst hit.

In the wider region, Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, and Rhode Island also declared states of emergency. Boston closed its schools, while Rhode Island and New Jersey stopped transport services and activated National Guard support.

In Connecticut, commercial vehicles were banned from highways, and in Pennsylvania, a disaster declaration was signed to mobilize additional resources.

Although Washington, DC, is expected to avoid the heaviest snowfall, nearby school districts have announced closures, and federal offices have delayed opening times.

The storm is also affecting Canada, with Nova Scotia’s east coast under an amber weather warning due to risks of widespread outages and structural damage.

Officials continue to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel as the storm moves through the area.