Millions of people along the East Coast in the United States were hit by a massive blizzard that could drop as much as 24 inches of snow on the Northeast, forecasters warned.
Some 350,000 people were without power across the US Northeast as the storm continued to ramp up. The historic snowstorm made travel in New York “almost impossible” as the city roads were completely covered in white snow.
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New York Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani urged New Yorkers to stay inside, and declared a travel ban across the five boroughs until noon Monday.
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The ban, however, was lifted on Monday night (IST). Announcing the decision, Mamdani warned the conditions on roads remain icy and urged people to exercise caution while driving.
“The city’s travel ban is lifted, but conditions on the roads remain icy. If you choose to drive, please exercise caution, travel slowly, and be mindful of others on the road. We continue to advise New Yorkers to stay safe and stay indoors as much as possible,” he said on X.
The Hizzoner also shared the latest snowfall data. According to him, New York received 14–20″ of snow, with most areas reporting 16 to 19 inches. The city is expected to receive another 1.5 to 2.3 inches of snowfall with gusty winds as high as 55 MPH.
The New York Mayor visited the Central Storehouse to see its 24/7 emergency operations. Mamdani said the Department of Sanitation of New York is working around the clock to keep NYC moving.
Thousands of flights cancelled, Air India issues advisory
Thousands of flights in and out of the NYC-metro area were cancelled by Sunday afternoon, with Air India issuing an advisory for its passengers.
The airline said that airport operations at New York and Newark are affected by the blizzard. It further added that its teams will assist all those who booked the respective flights.
“Airport operations at New York and Newark have been affected due to the blizzard, resulting in heavy snowfall. In view of the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew, Air India flights to and from New York and Newark have been cancelled on 24 February. Our teams on the ground will be extending support and assistance to all of you who are booked to fly with us on this date,” Air India said in a post on X.
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