New York Mayor Mamdani orders citywide travel ban ahead of major US storm
South China Morning Post
by Agence France-PresseFebruary 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has declared a citywide travel ban for non-essential vehicles as a massive snowstorm approaches the northeastern United States. The shutdown will begin at 9pm on Sunday and last until noon on Monday, affecting all streets, highways, and bridges in New York City. This move comes amid warnings of extreme weather conditions, including blizzard-like snowfall rates of up to 2-3 inches per hour and accumulations of up to 60cm (2 feet) in some areas. The storm is expected to impact nearly 54 million people across a wide swath of the U.S., from Washington D.C. to Maine.
The National Weather Service has warned that blizzard conditions will “quickly materialize” from Maryland up through southeastern New England, making travel extremely treacherous. Power outages are also likely due to heavy snowfall and strong wind gusts. In New York City, which is home to over eight million residents, the mayor’s decision to shut down the entire traffic network aims to prevent accidents and ensure public safety during what could be one of the worst winter storms in recent memory.
This storm highlights the challenges posed by severe weather events, particularly their impact on densely populated urban areas. The disruption to transportation systems, potential
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Originally published on South China Morning Post on 2/22/2026