Powerful winter storm shuts schools, disrupts travel across US Northeast

Children in the Northeastern US will not go to school on Monday as a strong winter storm forced the closure of schools and put offices and public transportation systems on emergency schedules, with warnings of heavy snow, high winds, and hazardous travel conditions from officials throughout the region.

The winter storm has already caused travel disruptions from Washington to New England, with airlines canceling thousands of flights and officials advising people not to go out.

Winter weather in the Northeast may also cause delays in the processing, transportation, and delivery of mail and packages, according to the US Postal Service.

The city of New York, the largest school district in the country, has ordered all public school buildings closed for a snow day, with no remote learning and all after-school programs canceled.

A state of emergency was declared by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who ordered all non-essential vehicles off city streets from Sunday night through noon Monday, as snowfall was expected to become heavy. The city is under its first blizzard warning since 2017.

City offices will be closed for in-person business, and non-essential city employees may work from home. "I'm urging every New Yorker to please stay home," Mamdani said