NEW YORK CITY — A historic bomb cyclone nor’easter has buried New York City and the surrounding Tri-State area in a massive blanket of snow, prompting Mayor Zohran Mamdani to declare a NYC state of emergency. As of Monday, February 23, 2026, a mandatory NYC travel ban remains the focal point of the city’s response to what meteorologists are calling a once-in-a-generation winter storm.
NYC Travel Ban & State of Emergency
The travel ban nyc was enacted at 9:00 PM Sunday and was originally set to expire at noon today. However, due to the intensity of the snow storm, the travel ban has severely restricted all non-essential vehicular traffic on new york city streets, bridges, and tunnels. Under the nyc travel ban blizzard conditions, only emergency vehicles, MTA buses, and essential delivery trucks are permitted on the roads.
A similar nj travel ban today was extended in New Jersey until noon as new jersey weather conditions deteriorated, with authorities warning that violators of the travel ban ny could face misdemeanor charges.
NYC Snow Totals: How Much Snow Has Fallen?
New Yorkers waking up to the blizzard nyc are asking: how much snow did nyc get? According to the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel, the snowfall totals have been staggering:
- Central Park (NYC): 15.1 inches as of 7:00 AM.
- Coney Island (Brooklyn): 16 inches.
- JFK Airport: 15 inches, with massive flight cancellations.
- Long Island (Islip): Snow totals long island reached upward of 22 inches, as reported by News 12 Long Island.
- New Jersey: NJ snow totals in some areas have surpassed 18 inches, paralyzing local weather routes.
The snow accumulation nyc is expected to climb as the noreaster continues to lash the coast through the afternoon.
MTA Status & Transit Tracker
The MTA blizzard response has seen the MTA switch most subway lines to local service to keep tracks clear. However, the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) and the Staten Island Railway have been suspended indefinitely.
- JFK Airport and LaGuardia have reported over 60% of arrivals cancelled.
- The NYC Ferry is operating on a limited weekend schedule.
- MTA officials are using a tracker system to prioritize snow removal at bus stops.
NYC Public Schools Closed: A Traditional Snow Day
In a move that delighted students across the five boroughs, NYC public schools are officially closed Monday. Breaking from the recent trend of virtual learning, Mayor Mamdani declared a “traditional” snow day nyc, meaning nyc schools closed with no remote instruction required.
Parents asking is there school on monday in nyc or are nyc schools closed monday received confirmation early Sunday evening that the NYC DOE snow day monday would apply to all nyc public schools. It is the first time since 2019 that the city has opted for a full snow day rather than shifting to remote classes. A decision on whether nyc schools closed tomorrow (Tuesday) will be made later this evening based on the ny weather outlook.
Safety and “Mamdani Snow” Response
Mayor Mamdani has urged residents to stay indoors, highlighting that “near impossible” travel conditions put both drivers and delivery workers at extreme risk. With the weather channel predicting more snow nyc accumulation through the evening, the city has deployed over 5,000 sanitation trucks to tackle the nyc snow storm.