Blizzard triggers New York City travel ban as airlines cancel thousands of flights

"The Monday morning commute won't be messy in New York City. It will be nonexistent. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and a travel ban during a press conference on Sunday as a giant winter storm bore down on much of the Northeast. The National Weather Service said to expect blizzard conditions and up to 20 inches of snow over the next 24 hours. Parts of New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts could get up to 25 inches."

""The state of emergency closes the streets, highways, and bridges of New York City for all traffic," Mamdami said. The travel ban begins at 9 p.m. Sunday and lasts until 12 p.m. on Monday. US airlines, meanwhile, are canceling and delaying thousands of flights. As of Sunday afternoon, airlines had canceled over 3,000 flights and delayed over 2,900, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware."

"Anyone hoping to catch a flight in the region on Monday can also expect major disruptions, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. At LaGuardia Airport, for example, 82% of flights scheduled for Monday have been canceled. Adding to what will likely be a chaotic 48 hours for travelers, the Department of Homeland Security announced Saturday night that it was suspending TSA PreCheck and Global Entry due to the partial government shutdown."

A major winter storm will hit the Northeast from Sunday into Monday, bringing blizzard conditions and forecast snowfall up to 20 inches in many areas and up to 25 inches in parts of New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. New York City officials declared a state of emergency and enacted a travel ban beginning 9 p.m. Sunday through 12 p.m. Monday that closes streets, highways, and bridges. US airlines canceled and delayed thousands of flights, with over 3,000 cancellations and more than 2,900 delays; several major airports showed the highest numbers of cancellations and LaGuardia had 82% of Monday flights canceled. The Department of Homeland Security announced suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry amid a partial government shutdown, though PreCheck lanes remained open at major airports on Sunday.

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