A woman crosses a street near Manhattan's Grand Central during a snowfall in New York City, on February 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot (30cm) or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) ©AFP or licensorsNEW YORK CITY - FEBRUARY 22: Few vehicles drive along a highway as snow starts to fall on February 22, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a state of emergency for New York City and issued a travel ban beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, and ending at 12 p.m. on Monday. New York City is expecting up to a foot of snow with up to two feet on Long Island and in parts of New Jersey. Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by SPENCER PLATT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)NEW YORK CITY - FEBRUARY 22: Few vehicles drive along a highway as snow starts to fall on February 22, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a state of emergency for New York City and issued a travel ban beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, and ending at 12 p.m. on Monday. New York City is expecting up to a foot of snow with up to two feet on Long Island and in parts of New Jersey. Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by SPENCER PLATT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) ©2026 Getty Images

La mégalopole de huit millions d’habitants, déjà couverte d’une fine couche de neige dimanche soir, a décrété l’état d’urgence et une interdiction de circuler, entrée en vigueur dimanche à 21H00 (02H00 GMT), jusqu’à lundi midi (17H00 GMT).

Elle s’applique à la majorité des transports, des voitures individuelles aux véhicules commerciaux en passant par les vélos électriques. Elle ne concerne pas les travailleurs essentiels ni les habitants qui ont besoin de se déplacer pour des urgences.

Les bus, dont les roues ont été équipées de chaînes, peuvent continuer à rouler et les livraisons de nourriture restent autorisées, même si elles sont déconseillées.

Météo : 5 mètres de neige dans les Alpes, France sous l’eau, quid des assurances ? Les vacances ne sont pas épargnées, « c’est une situation préoccupante »« Belle expérience »

C’est le deuxième épisode hivernal majeur que doit gérer le maire démocrate depuis son entrée en fonction début janvier. Fin janvier, une longue vague de froid qui a fait au moins 18 morts dans la ville, la plupart par hypothermie.

Au total, cette tempête hivernale avait fait au moins 100 morts dans le pays, selon les autorités.

Zohran Mamdani a annoncé la mobilisation d’importants moyens pour venir en aide aux personnes ayant besoin d’un logement.

Les écoles resteront fermées lundi, y compris pour l’enseignement à distance, une première en sept ans.

« Et les parents qui doivent aller travailler? C’est injuste », a protesté Brandon Smith, un habitant de Brooklyn interrogé par l’AFP avant l’arrêt de la circulation. Il s’est inquiété des difficultés que vont rencontrer ceux qui ne peuvent pas télétravailler.

Des touristes se sont en revanche montrés ravis par le spectacle offert par les premières chutes de neige, à l’image de Macarena Gonzalez, venue du Chili: « Je savais qu’il allait neiger un peu, mais je ne pensais pas que ce serait autant. Mais je suis contente, c’est une belle expérience. »

People walk along Manhattan's 8th Avenue during a snowfall in New York City, on February 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot (30cm) or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)People walk along Manhattan's 8th Avenue during a snowfall in New York City, on February 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot (30cm) or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) ©AFP or licensorsA person rides a bike along Manhattan's Times Square during a snowfall in New York City, on February 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot (30cm) or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)A person rides a bike along Manhattan's Times Square during a snowfall in New York City, on February 22, 2026. A fast-developing storm is threatening to pummel the US East Coast with a foot (30cm) or more of snow beginning Sunday, bringing Mother Nature's wrath to a region that only just dug out from a previous winter wallop. Meteorologists issued blizzard warnings for New York and parts of at least six states, warning Saturday that heavy snow and gale-force winds are forecast to slam all major cities along the densely populated Interstate 95 northeast corridor, including Philadelphia, Boston and even Washington further south. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) ©AFP or licensorsNEW YORK CITY - FEBRUARY 22: People walk through the streets as blizzard conditions arrive on February 22, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a state of emergency for the city and issued a travel ban beginning at 9 p.m. tonight through 12 p.m. tomorrow. New York City is expecting up to a foot of snow with up to two feet on Long Island and in parts of New Jersey. Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by SPENCER PLATT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)NEW YORK CITY - FEBRUARY 22: People walk through the streets as blizzard conditions arrive on February 22, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a state of emergency for the city and issued a travel ban beginning at 9 p.m. tonight through 12 p.m. tomorrow. New York City is expecting up to a foot of snow with up to two feet on Long Island and in parts of New Jersey. Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by SPENCER PLATT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP) ©2026 Getty Images

Le siège des Nations unies à Manhattan sera également fermé lundi et « toutes les réunions prévues reportées », selon un communiqué interne.

Au total dans l’Etat de New York, des milliers de chasse-neige sont mobilisés, ainsi qu’une centaine de membres de la Garde nationale.

La mégalopole de New York ne sera pas la seule touchée, une bonne partie de la côte Nord-Est étant sous alerte.

A Boston, où jusqu’à 60 cm de neige sont attendus, les écoles seront fermés lundi, face à une tempête qui « s’annonce d’une ampleur historique », a averti la maire Michelle Wu.

Un risque de neige et de la fraicheur avant un redoux attendu fin février: quelle météo pour les vacances de carnaval ?

Dans tout le Nord-Est, les autorités ont averti de possibles coupures de courant et d’importantes perturbations dans la circulation routière.

Plus de 8.500 vols ont été annulés dimanche et lundi, selon le site spécialisé FlightAware, les aéroports de New York étant les plus concernés par ces annulations.

Des dizaines de milliers de foyers se sont retrouvés dans la nuit sans courant, dont plus de 40.000 dans l’Etat du New Jersey voisin de New York.