NEW YORK — The “City That Never Sleeps” has been ordered into a forced slumber.
As of 9:00 p.m. Sunday, February 22, New York City entered a total traffic lockdown, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani declaring a “Winter Weather Emergency” that has effectively cleared the streets of nearly nine million people. The travel ban, which remains in effect until noon today, Monday, February 23, is a desperate measure against Winter Storm Hernando—a massive “bomb cyclone” and nor’easter described by meteorologists as the most powerful to strike the I-95 corridor in a decade.
“New York City has not faced a storm of this scale since 2016,” Mayor Mamdani warned in a midnight briefing. “This is not a night for deliveries or non-essential travel. If you are on the road and you are not an emergency worker, you are a barrier to the safety of this city.”
The Anatomy of a ‘Bomb Cyclone’
Winter Storm Hernando underwent “bombogenesis” over the Atlantic late Sunday, with its central pressure dropping at a staggering rate as it collided with Arctic air diving south from Canada.
The result is a “weather bomb” currently dumping two to three inches of snow per hour across the tri-state area. By the time the system exits toward Maine on Tuesday, forecasters expect:
- Snowfall Totals: 18 to 24 inches for New York City and Boston; up to 28 inches in parts of Long Island and Connecticut.
- Wind Gusts: Gale-force winds exceeding 70 mph, creating “whiteout” conditions that make navigation impossible.
- Coastal Flooding: A storm surge of up to 4 feet is threatening low-lying areas from the Jersey Shore to Cape Cod.
A Region Under Siege
The scale of the disruption has reached levels not seen in the modern era of winter travel:
- The Travel Ban: NYC’s ban applies to all cars, trucks, scooters, and e-bikes. Only emergency vehicles, MTA buses, and utility crews are exempt. Similar bans have been enacted in Dutchess County, parts of New Jersey, and Connecticut.
- Massive Cancellations: Over 6,000 flights have been scrubbed at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Boston Logan.
- Transit Shutdowns: The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) suspended all service Sunday night, and Amtrak has significantly reduced Northeast Corridor operations through Tuesday.
- The Return of the ‘Snow Day’: In a move that delighted millions of students, Mayor Mamdani abandoned the city’s post-pandemic “remote learning” policy, declaring a traditional, full day off for all public schools today.
The National Guard Mobilizes
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill have both declared statewide emergencies. Over 100 National Guard members have been deployed to the Hudson Valley and Long Island to assist with high-axle rescues and emergency clearing.
“Whatever you need—groceries, medicines, pet food—the window to get it closed at 9:00 p.m.,” Governor Hochul told residents. “Now, your only job is to stay home, stay warm, and let the plows do their work.”
The Human Toll
As the storm enters its peak intensity during the Monday morning commute hours, the primary concern for officials is the power grid. The combination of heavy, wet snow and 70-mph winds is expected to down power lines for hundreds of thousands of residents. Emergency shelters have been “popped up” in community centers from Maryland to Massachusetts to accommodate those in the path of potential blackouts.
As of 2:00 a.m. Monday, the Northeast stands as a silent, white expanse. For the millions hunker down, the “Year of the Fire Horse” has delivered a reminder of the raw, unpredictable power of the Atlantic’s winter fury.