New York City imposes travel ban, shuts schools as winter storm sweeps Northeast

NEW YORK, Feb 23 (INS): New York City ground to a halt Monday as a massive winter storm swept across the northeastern United States, prompting officials to impose a rare travel ban and shut down schools. The blizzard, driven by gale-force winds and heavy snowfall, left streets deserted and millions of residents confined indoors.

Dubbed Winter Storm Hernando, it rapidly intensified into a “bomb cyclone.” Meteorologists described it as potentially historic, with blizzard warnings stretching from Maryland to Maine.

By dawn, snowdrifts had piled waist-high in parts of Brooklyn and Queens, while Manhattan’s avenues were eerily quiet. Commuters who braved the early hours found subway entrances buried and buses stranded. “It feels like the city has been put on pause,” said one resident, describing the silence broken only by the sound of snowplows. Emergency crews struggled to keep up, clearing major arteries while side streets remained impassable.

Despite the challenges, officials emphasized that early warnings and strict travel restrictions were helping to minimize casualties.

Washington to Maine

The storm’s reach extended far beyond New York. Tens of millions of Americans from Washington, D.C., to Maine faced severe disruptions. Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore also reported school closures and suspended public services. Airports across the region were paralyzed, with more than 5,000 flights canceled nationwide. Train services were curtailed, and emergency crews struggled to keep major highways clear. In some areas, snowfall totals exceeded 22 inches, with forecasters warning of drifts and whiteout conditions.

In Boston, Logan International Airport canceled nearly all flights, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. Philadelphia reported more than 200,000 power outages as ice-laden branches snapped onto power lines. In coastal New Jersey, flooding compounded the misery, with residents forced to evacuate low-lying neighborhoods. Schools across the region closed, and grocery stores saw long lines as families stocked up on essentials before the worst hit.

For many, the storm was more than an inconvenience. Delivery workers, nurses, and first responders faced grueling treks through snowbound streets. Hospitals reported an uptick in cases of hypothermia and injuries from falls. Families without power huddled under blankets, while shelters opened their doors to the homeless. “We’re doing everything we can to keep people safe,” said a Red Cross volunteer in New Jersey. Looking Ahead

Forecasters expect the storm to taper off by midweek, but cleanup will take days. With more than 5,000 flights canceled nationwide and widespread power outages, recovery will be slow. Still, officials emphasized that early warnings and strict travel restrictions likely prevented greater loss of life. For millions across the Northeast, this storm will be remembered not just for its ferocity, but for the way it reshaped daily life in a matter of hours.

This storm is already being compared to the infamous “Blizzard of 2016” and the “Snowmageddon” of 2010, both of which crippled the East Coast for days. However, experts note that Hernando’s rapid intensification into a bomb cyclone makes it particularly dangerous. The National Weather Service warned that conditions could be “dangerous to impossible” for travel, a phrase rarely used except in the most severe weather events. Emergency Response

While “Blizzard of 2016,” which dumped over two feet of snow on the East Coast, this storm’s rapid intensification made it especially dangerous. Winds gusting over 50 mph created whiteout conditions, and officials warned that even emergency vehicles were struggling to respond.