Feb. 22 (UPI) — New York City, Long Island, Delaware and New Jersey are under a blizzard warning ahead of a massive winter storm.
“This is likely to be the worst storm we have seen since 1996. It is a serious storm. Please take it seriously. Stay inside. Don’t travel tonight,” said New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who has also issued a state of emergency.
“This storm is too serious to have people and workers out on public transit in the worst of it,” Sherrill said.
Commercial vehicles are currently banned all highways but the New Jersey Turnpike, and buses will stop running at 6 p.m. Trains are also expected to shut down.
New Jersey residents living on the coast could also experience flooding, officials said.
“Remember, if you see a roadway that may be flooded: turn around, don’t drown,” said New Jersey State Police acting superintendent David Sierotowicz.
New York City has also declared a state of emergency, with some 24 inches of snow expected.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has placed a ban on travel beginning at 9 p.m., while Governor Kathy Hochul has issued a travel ban for Westchester and Long Island.
To be considered a blizzard, a storm must dump at least 13 inches of snow and include winds up to 55 miles per hour, NBC New York reported.
New York, Connecticut and Delaware are also in a state of emergency.
“I’m declaring a state of emergency and activating every available state resource to ensure Delawareans are protected as this blizzard blankets our communities, including increased risks for coastal flooding. Prepare now, please stay off the roads once the storm begins, and look out for your neighbors,” said Delaware Governor Matthew Meyer in a statement.
“We will continue working around the clock to keep every Delawarean safe,” he said.
Some 2,900 flights were canceled Sunday, Axios reported.
The cancelations coincided with confusion about whether TSA PreCheck would be closed amid the partial government shutdown.
PreCheck remains operational despite earlier Department of Homeland Security reports that it would be shut down, the outlet reportedal despite earlier Department of Homeland Security reports that it would be shut down, officials said.
The U.S. and Canadian hockey teams returning from the Olympic Games were due to fly in to New York, but were rerouted to Miami ahead of the Nor’easter.