New York City Issues First Blizzard Warning in Nearly a Decade as Storm Halts Travel

New York City is facing its first blizzard warning in nearly a decade as a powerful winter storm disrupts travel and daily life across the eastern United States.

Authorities have imposed a ban on non-essential travel from 21:00 on Sunday until midday Monday to keep roads clear amid heavy snow and strong winds. The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm with snowfall or blowing snow and winds exceeding 35mph, reducing visibility to less than a quarter of a mile for at least three hours. 

Such conditions are rare in New York City, which last experienced a blizzard warning in March 2017. Philadelphia has not seen one since January 2016, while New Jersey's last state-wide blizzard warning occurred in 1996.

The impact of the storm is widespread. More than 5,000 flights within, into, and out of the US have been cancelled for Monday, with disruptions also affecting international travel. 

Heathrow Airport has cancelled flights to Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, and flights from Manchester, Edinburgh, and Dublin have been grounded. Passengers are advised to check with airlines for updates, as schedules remain subject to change. 

In addition to flight cancellations, the storm has caused power outages, leaving more than 200,000 homes and businesses without electricity. Winter storm warnings are in effect from North Carolina to northern Maine, and parts of eastern Canada have also been affected. 

The storm follows a major snowstorm in January that covered New York but lacked the winds necessary to be classified as a blizzard. Schools across the region have been closed. New York City’s public schools will remain closed on Monday, with no remote learning offered. 

Thirteen school buildings are being used as warming centres. Similar closures have been reported in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, and New Jersey, though not on a state-wide basis. In Washington DC, schools are opening with a two-hour delay.

Blizzards are more common in the Great Plains and Midwest, particularly in "Blizzard Alley," where flat terrain and sparse vegetation allow winds to drive snow unhindered.