A powerful nor'easter barreled into the New York City and Tri-State area Sunday, forcing travel bans and triggering the first blizzard warning for the five boroughs in nearly a decade. Snow started as light flurries in the morning but ramped up fast, with forecasts calling for 12 to 18 inches across much of the region and up to two feet in spots on Long Island and the Jersey Shore. Winds gusting to 60 mph promise whiteout conditions and power outages from Sunday evening through Monday morning.
Key Takeaways
- Blizzard warnings cover NYC, Long Island, most of New Jersey, and southern Connecticut, with 12-24 inches of snow expected.
- NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani banned nonessential travel at 9 p.m. Sunday; New Jersey issued a statewide emergency.
- Rail service suspended, subways on modified schedules, and plows ready as the storm intensifies tonight.
- This marks NYC's first blizzard warning since 2017, potentially the biggest snow event in years.
Background
The storm built strength off the coast all weekend. It started as rain in some spots midday Sunday. But that flipped quick to snow. By evening, bands of heavy flakes moved in. Meteorologists tracked it closing in on the Tri-State from the Atlantic. Pressure dropped low. That pulled in north-northeast winds. Gusts hit tropical storm force in open areas.
New York City saw its first real taste of winter this season with 22 inches already in Central Park. Last year? Just 13. This nor'easter could smash records. Think back to January 2016. That one dumped big. But folks say this might top it for some neighborhoods. Officials watched models shift. Snow totals climbed hour by hour. What began as 8-12 inches jumped to 18-24 in the hardest-hit zones.
Governors and mayors didn't wait. New York declared emergencies in 22 counties. New Jersey went statewide at noon. National Guard rolled out 100 troops to NYC, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. Sanitation in the city prepped 5,000 workers. They work 12-hour shifts with 2,200 plows and salt trucks staged everywhere. Airlines canceled flights early. See more on airlines canceling flights ahead of winter storm Hernando.
Coastal spots brace too. Flood warnings stretch from New York to Connecticut. High tides meet storm surge. That means water over roads in low areas. It's a late-season punch. February usually winds down mild. Not this year.
Key Details
Snowfall maps paint a stark picture. NYC proper? 12-18 inches. Southern Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens could push 18-24. Long Island's South Shore eyes 18-24 too. North Shore a bit less at 12-18. Jersey Shore matches that. Inland central Jersey and most of northern New Jersey stick to 12-18. Lower Hudson Valley and southern Connecticut same range. Upper Hudson and northwest Jersey cap at 12-18.
Timeline locks in tight. Light snow Sunday morning. Rain mixes in first for some. Changeover hits fast by afternoon. Heaviest stuff pounds from 7 p.m. Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday. Rates touch 2-3 inches per hour. Winds roar at 40-60 mph. Blizzard rules apply: less than a quarter-mile visibility for hours. Whiteouts. Tree limbs snap. Power lines strain.
Travel Disruptions
Travel bans kicked in hard. NYC's ban on nonessential vehicles starts 9 p.m. Sunday. Emergency rigs and key workers only. New Jersey mirrored that. Rockland County Executive Ed Day put words to it:
"This decisive action is necessary to protect lives and ensure our road crews can clear snow as quickly and safely as possible. With blizzard conditions expected, visibility will be extremely limited and travel will become dangerous very quickly."
– Ed Day, Rockland County Executive
LIRR shuts down at 1 a.m. Monday. Metro-North goes hourly. Branch lines on weekend schedules. NYC subways modified. Staten Island Railway weekend mode. MTA buses face delays, cancellations. Check coastal storm impacts in nearby DC area for similar disruptions south.
Power outage risks run high. Wet snow clings heavy. Winds whip it around. Utilities stage crews. But downed lines loom likely. Warming centers open. Like in Rockland at the Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Center.
Governor Kathy Hochul hit the airwaves Sunday.
"Long Island, New York City and Lower Hudson Valley are literally in the direct eye of the storm. It will transition very rapidly into heavier, wetter snow, which has the capability of downing power lines, which means people will be in the dark."
– Governor Kathy Hochul
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone echoed the call. Stay home. Let plows work.
What This Means
Roads turn treacherous fast. Plows can't keep up in whiteouts. Accidents spike. First responders struggle to reach calls. Power goes out for thousands, maybe more. Schools shut Monday, sure bet. Businesses too. Remote work if internet holds.
This nor'easter reshapes the season. Central Park's total surges past historic marks. Comparisons to 2021's 17 inches fade quick. Or 2016's benchmark. Flooding hits beaches. Erosion chews dunes. Recovery takes days, weeks.
Economy feels it. Shipments delay. Stores empty shelves pre-storm. Construction halts. Airlines reroute passengers. Insurance claims pile up from outages, crashes, floods.
Residents stock up. Bread. Milk. Batteries. Generators hum in garages. Neighbors check on elderly folks. Community steps up. But the big ask? Stay put. Don't test the storm.
Longer view: Climate patterns shift these beasts later into spring. Warmer oceans fuel them strong. Expect more like this. Prep changes. Cities adapt plows, shelters, alerts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much snow is expected in my area?
Expect 12-18 inches across most of the Tri-State, with 18-24 inches possible on Long Island's South Shore, Jersey Shore, and parts of NYC like southern Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Are trains and buses running tomorrow?
LIRR suspends at 1 a.m. Monday. Metro-North hourly service. Subways modified, buses delayed or canceled. Check MTA updates.
What should I do to prepare?
Stay home if possible. Stock food, water, flashlights. Charge devices. Clear storm drains. Avoid travel during peak hours Sunday night to Monday morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much snow is expected in my area?
Expect 12-18 inches across most of the Tri-State, with 18-24 inches possible on Long Island’s South Shore, Jersey Shore, and parts of NYC like southern Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Are trains and buses running tomorrow?
LIRR suspends at 1 a.m. Monday. Metro-North hourly service. Subways modified, buses delayed or canceled. Check MTA updates.
What should I do to prepare?
Stay home if possible. Stock food, water, flashlights. Charge devices. Clear storm drains. Avoid travel during peak hours Sunday night to Monday morning.
