NEW YORK, NY —
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani today [02/22] declared a local state of emergency ahead of a severe snowstorm expected to impact New York City. To ensure emergency responders and essential workers can move safely and quickly, city streets will be closed to non-essential vehicular traffic from 9 p.m. Sunday to 12 p.m. Monday.
Limited exceptions apply to vehicles providing emergency services, public transportation, medical supplies, food, fuel, utility repairs and other critical services.
Mayor Mamdani also announced that all New York City Public School buildings, except those operating as warming centers, will be closed on Monday, Feb. 23. There will be a traditional ‘snow day.’ No remote instruction will take place, and all after-school activities are cancelled.
In coordination with the New York State Education Department, New York City has received a waiver from the 180-day instructional requirement to prioritize the safety of students, staff and families.
The Emergency Weather Declaration also:
- Suspends Alternate Side Parking for Monday, Feb. 23.
- Directs the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to monitor and enforce against price gouging.
- Instructs New York City Emergency Management, the City of New York Fire Department, the New York City Police Department, the New York City Department of Sanitation, and the New York City Department of Transportation to take all necessary steps to protect public safety.
The order takes effect immediately and remains in effect for five days, except where otherwise limited, and unless extended or revoked.
City government has mobilized a coordinated, multi-agency response to clear roads, protect vulnerable New Yorkers, and maintain essential services.
“The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority. As this blizzard moves in, our administration is mobilizing every tool at our disposal, around the clock, to keep our neighbors safe. This emergency declaration allows us to cut through red tape so emergency vehicles, sanitation crews, and essential workers can move quickly and do their jobs without delay,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Out of an abundance of caution, schools will be closed tomorrow. We’ve also opened warming centers in all five boroughs to make sure no one is left out in the cold. I’m urging every New Yorker to please stay home. Check in on your neighbors, especially seniors and those who may need extra support. This declaration strengthens our ability to back up our first responders as they put themselves on the line, and it protects working families from price gouging during this storm. In moments like this, we show who we are as a city — we take care of each other.”
About the Local State of Emergency:
The declaration establishes a temporary citywide travel restriction by closing NYC streets, highways, bridges and tunnels to vehicular traffic from 9 p.m. Sunday to 12 p.m. Monday. Most vehicle traffic – including but not limited to commercial trucks, electric bicycles, scooters, and mopeds – is prohibited during that period, except for authorized categories.
Exempt vehicles include:
- Government and emergency response vehicles
- Public transit, including MTA buses and Access-A-Ride
- Vehicles delivering food, fuel and medical supplies
- Utility vehicles performing emergency repairs
- Transportation for essential workers traveling to workplaces, including health care facilities, pharmacies, grostores, gas stations, media outlets, hotels and laundrom
- Transportation to hospitals and court facilities
- Nonprofit and private organizations providing emergency relief
City offices will be closed for in-person services on Monday. Essential employees must report to work; nonessential employees may telework. Violations of travel restrictions are punishable as a Class B misdemeanor.
Warming Centers and Shelter Access
The New York City Department of Social Services will deploy 22 warming busses citywide. Additional warming spaces are available at 11 NYC Health + Hospital facilities and 13 school locations. New Yorkers should contact 311 or visit a LinkNYC kiosk for the nearest site.
Effective 4:00 PM today, 02/22/2026, empty truck and tandem trailers will be banned on the following roadways: I-87 (from Exit 17 to NYC Line), I-287 (from NJ State Line to I-95), I-95 (from NYC Line to CT State Line), and I-84 (and all NYSDOT roadways south of I-84 including Long Island).
Metro North: On Monday, 02/23/2026, Metro-North will operate on an hourly service schedule, with weekend schedules in place on the branch lines.
Long Island Railroad: Train service will be reduced on select branches as early as 7:00 PM tonight and by 1:00 AM tomorrow will be fully suspended until further notice.
NYC Ferry: Service closure at 5:00 PM today, 02/22/2026, with late start of service tomorrow, 02/23/2026.
Staten Island Ferry: The Staten Island Ferry will move to hourly service at midnight tonight. 30-minute service is scheduled to resume at 6:00 AM Monday.
Buses: All Bronx local, limited, and express buses are running with delays in both directions due to the winter storm. Southbound M101, M102, and M103 buses (Manhattan) and northbound M4 bus (Manhattan) are detoured due to winter storm preparations.
Subways: Express service will run on local tracks for the following subway lines due to winter storm preparation: Downtown D trains from 125 St. to 59 St-Columbus Circle. Q trains in Manhattan. Uptown 4 and 5 trains from Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall to 125 St, and 4 trains in Brooklyn in both directions. Uptown 2 and 3 trains from Chambers St. to 96 St. Uptown A trains and some Queens-bound A trains between Broadway Junction St. and Hoyt-Schermerhorn St., and downtown A trains from 125 St to 59 St-Columbus Circle.
Bridges: Starting at 7:00 PM today, 02/22/2026, through 10:00 AM on Monday, 02/23/2026, empty tractor-trailer and tandem trucks are prohibited from using the following bridges and tunnels due to expected high winds: Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Cross-Bay Bridge, Henry Hudson Bridge, Marine Parkway Bridge, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Throggs Neck Bridge, Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, and Queens Midtown Tunnel.
NJ Transit: Due to anticipated severe storm conditions impacting the region, NJ TRANSIT Bus, Light Rail, and Access Link service will be suspended at 6 PM on Sunday, February 22. Rail service adjustments are expected later in the evening.
