New York City is facing a historic weather event as a high-impact bomb cyclone barrels toward the five boroughs. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has officially declared a local state of emergency and a citywide travel ban, warning that this will be the most intense storm the city has seen in nearly a decade.
Forecasters have upgraded the storm to a rare Blizzard Warning–the first issued for NYC since 2017–with predictions now reaching up to 21 inches of snow in some areas. Adding to the drama, meteorologists say the storm’s explosive intensification could trigger rare “thundersnow,” a winter phenomenon where lightning and thunder accompany heavy snowfall.
Here’s the essential Blizzard Safety Toolkit to help you navigate the next 48 hours:
🚫 Mandatory Travel Ban & Closures
The City That Never Sleeps is officially hunker down mode. To ensure emergency vehicles and 2,200+ plows can clear the roads, the following are in effect:
- Citywide Travel Ban: starts tonight, Sunday, February 22 at 9 pm, and lasts until Monday, February 23 at 12 pm
- Road Closures: all highways and bridges are closed to non-essential vehicular traffic (including cars, trucks, e-bikes, and scooters)
- Staten Island Ferry: modified hourly service from midnight to 6 am; every 30 minutes starting at 6 am
- NYC Ferry: all operations end today at 5 pm; a late start is expected for Monday
✏️ A Historic Old-School Snow Day
For the first time since 2019, NYC students are getting a traditional snow day.
Mayor Mamdani confirmed there will be no remote learning on Monday, February 23. No Zoom links, no Google Classrooms–just a day for kids to stay safe and (once the winds die down) enjoy the snow.
💰 Earn $28/Hour Shoveling Snow
2,600 DSNY workers have begun working in 12-hour shifts, with a fleet of 700 salt-spreaders dispatched across the city and over 2,200 plowing vehicles beginning their work once more than 2 inches of snow have fallen. However, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is also looking for reinforcements.
If you’re 18+ and eligible to work in the U.S., you can help the city dig out:
- Pay: starts at $19.14/hour, jumping to $28.71/hour after 40 hours
- How to join: report to your local sanitation garage between 8 am and 1 pm with two small photos, two forms of ID, and your Social Security card
🔥 Code Blue: Safety For All New Yorkers
A Code Blue is in effect, meaning the city is working 24/7 to move unhoused New Yorkers into warmth.
- Warming Centers: 22 buses, 11 Health & Hospitals spaces, and 13 school centers are open–find the full list here
- How to help: if you see someone in need, call 311 immediately. Outreach workers and first responders from FDNY/NYPD are standing by to assist. Any New Yorker in need can also call 311 directly from any LinkNYC kiosk to find a warm space
- NotifyNYC: text NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 for real-time alerts (basement apartment residents: there’s a specific alert group for you at NYC.gov/notify due to flooding risks)
🏠 Apartment & Heat Issues
With temperatures dropping into the 20s and high winds, keeping the heat on is critical.
- Heat/Hot Water: if your landlord isn’t providing heat, call 311. HPD staff are working overtime to respond to complaints
- NYCHA: residents should call 718-707-7771 for repairs
- Sidewalks: property owners must clear a 4-foot path for accessibility. Failure to clear snow can result in fines up to $250
❄️ The Storm Timeline
- Tonight (Sunday) 9 pm – Monday 9 am: the heaviest snowfall–expect 2-3 inches of snow per hour and near-zero visibility
- Monday 8 am: peak winds (up to 60 mph gusts) and potential thundersnow
- Monday 8 pm: snow expected to taper off
The storm is projected to drop 17 to 21 inches across NYC, bringing up to 28 inches in certain areas.
Stay home, stay warm, and look out for your neighbors 💙