New York Bans Travel and Closes Schools Ahead of Major Blizzard
The city of New York has imposed a travel ban, except for absolute emergencies, and ordered the closure of schools on Monday, February 23 2026, in anticipation of a major blizzard set to hit the Northeastern United States.
Millions of residents—from Washington D.C. up to the state of Maine—are preparing for snowfall that could reach up to 60 cm (about 24 in) in some locations.
Critical Weather Conditions
- National Weather Service (NWS) reports that light snow and icy fog have already been recorded in New York during the early hours of Monday, with minimum temperatures of ‑1 °C (30 °F).
- The agency warns that a blizzard will sweep an area stretching from Maryland to the southeastern part of New England, making travel “extremely dangerous.”
- At the storm’s peak, snowfall intensity could increase by 5–8 cm (2–3 in) per hour.
- By dawn, visibility was already so poor that the iconic Wall Street skyscrapers were barely discernible from neighboring Brooklyn.
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Keywords: New York blizzard 2026, travel ban, school closures, Northeastern US snowstorm, National Weather Service, extreme weather, snowfall 60 cm, hazardous travel conditions.
