A historic blizzard paralyzed New York City on Monday, blanketing the five boroughs in nearly two feet of snow and forcing a total travel ban before tapering off in the late afternoon.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday afternoon that while the city-wide travel ban has been lifted, New York City public schools will reopen for in-person instruction on Tuesday following what he called the city’s first “traditional snow day” in years.
Snowfall Totals Across the City
The storm, which intensified rapidly into a “bomb cyclone” overnight, delivered some of the highest snowfall totals the region has seen in a decade. Central Park recorded 19.3 inches, while higher accumulations were seen at the city’s airports and outer boroughs.
| Location | Snowfall Total (Inches) |
| LaGuardia Airport | 22.2″ |
| JFK International Airport | 19.8″ |
| Staten Island | ~24.0″ |
| Central Park | 19.3″ |
| Newark, NJ | 27.1″ |
Impact on Transit and Roads
The blizzard brought the city’s transportation network to a near standstill. Mayor Mamdani’s emergency travel ban, which began Sunday at 9 p.m., remained in effect until noon Monday to allow the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to clear primary routes.
- Subways: The MTA maintained service throughout the storm, though with significant delays and service changes. Crews focused heavily on clearing snow from elevated and outdoor tracks to prevent freezing.
- Buses: Service was severely limited, with many routes suspended or detoured due to unplowed side streets and abandoned vehicles.
- Air Travel: More than 3,000 flights were canceled at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark combined, as near-zero visibility and high winds made runways unusable.
- Commuter Rail: The LIRR and Metro-North operated on extremely reduced schedules, with some branches expected to resume full service by 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Mayor’s Announcement and What’s Next
In a press conference from a DSNY garage in Queens, Mayor Mamdani praised the city’s resilience and confirmed that the “remote learning” era would not apply to this storm.
“Today was a full, classic snow day, no remote learning, no logging on,” Mamdani said. “But tomorrow, it’s back to work. Schools will be open for in-person instruction Tuesday. You can even pelt me with a snowball if you see me on the way.”
Key points for Tuesday, February 24:
- Public Schools: Open for full in-person instruction.
- Trash Collection: Remains suspended through Tuesday to allow DSNY to continue snow removal.
- Alternate Side Parking: Suspended until further notice.
- Safety Warning: A hazardous travel advisory remains in effect until midnight. Officials warned of “flash freezing” as temperatures drop tonight, turning slush into dangerous ice.
The city is currently seeking emergency snow shovelers, offering an increased rate of $30 per hour to assist in clearing crosswalks and fire hydrants.
