Footage and images shared on social media show New York City caked in snow as a powerful nor’easter storm strikes the U.S. East Coast with blizzard conditions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said the major winter storm would bring “widespread, significant impacts” across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast into Monday, with 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour at times and “totals as high as 1 or 2 feet resulting in nearly impossible travel conditions.”
Blizzard warnings from the NWS are in effect for the city, as well as in nearby states including New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts—with the agency warning of whiteout conditions that would make travel “treacherous and potentially life-threatening,” as well as power outages.
As of approximately 4:40 a.m. ET, there were around 2,788 outages reported in Suffolk County, 2,660 in Nassau County, 10,375 in Queens, and 1,878 in Staten Island, according to tracking service Poweroutage.us.
Most travel has also been banned in the city, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani saying roads would be open only for essential and emergency trips only. City schools would also have a snow day Monday, Mamdani said.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) shared an image of two of its vehicles blocking a snow-covered road, reminding New Yorkers that a ban is in place for non-essential vehicles “with limited exceptions” until noon Monday. “For your safety, stay indoors,” the NYPD said.
NWS New York posted a clip taken outside its office in Upton depicting a band of heavy snow passing through the area.
The New York City Department of Sanitation released photos and footage showing snowplows clearing the streets and crews shoveling sidewalks.
X user @AlecKennison shared footage purportedly showing “thundersnow,” a rare winter weather phenomenon hitting the One World Trade Center amid the blizzard.
Another X user, @AjcheGustavo posted clips of food delivery workers making their rounds despite the snowfall, dressed in bulky gear to guard against the freezing weather.
Weather writer and meteorologist for The Washington Post Ben Noll shared pictures of street signs coated in wet snow amid the blizzard.
“There’s more to come, as heavy snow bands spiral around the storm,” wrote Noll.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she had declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard ahead of the blizzard conditions expected across New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, cautioning locals: “This is a serious storm.”
NWS New York said its blizzard warning for New York City and surrounding areas would remain in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.
