A subway station is seen in snow in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

NEW YORK, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations.

The travel ban is effective from 9 p.m. (0200 GMT) Sunday to 12 p.m. (1700 GMT) Monday. Neighboring New Jersey has also issued a travel ban, prohibiting vehicles on streets, bridges and highways.

States of emergency are now in effect in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as the storm is sweeping across the northeastern United States.

Latest weather forecasts predict 12-18 inches of snow and winds as high as 55 mph for NYC, potentially making it one of the strongest winter storms the city has experienced in years, local media reported.

Data from flight-tracking service FlightAware show that two-thirds of incoming flights and 302 departing flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport have been canceled, with 95 flights delayed.

At LaGuardia Airport, 243 flights have been canceled and 122 delayed, while Newark Airport in New Jersey has seen 195 cancellations and 106 delays. ■

People are seen in snow on a street in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A man walks in snow on a street in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Vehicles run in snow on a street in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People walk in snow at a subway station in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A closed highway is seen in snow in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People walk in snow at the Times Square in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Pedestrian and vehicles are seen in snow on a street in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

The Grand Central Station and other iconic buildings are seen in snow in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A pedestrian crosses a street in snow in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A snowplow clears the sidewalk in snow in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A subway station is seen in snow in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Snow piles up on a tree in New York, the United States, on Feb. 22, 2026. New York City (NYC) Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban as a winter storm hit the region, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)