East Coast blanketed with travel bans as winter storm makes travel “nearly impossible”

A major winter storm has blanketed the East Coast with travel bans as large amounts of snow and high winds make travel “nearly impossible.”

Many travel bans began at 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 22nd, and are in place until further notice until snow and ice conditions improve. 

“Very high snowfall rates and potentially damaging wind gusts will make travel nearly impossible from the DelMarVa Peninsula into southeastern New England,” wrote the National Weather Service of the storm that has blanketed the east coast until further notice. 

A state of emergency was declared in Connecticut on Sunday, with an additional emergency order banning all commercial vehicles on limited access highways from 5 p.m. that evening until lifted. The ban does not apply to emergency response or public utility vehicles, reported TIME.

Delaware also declared a state of emergency on Sunday with a statewide driving warning. Kent and Sussex counties were issued a general driving ban for all motorists and commercial vehicles, with exceptions for emergency responders and other critical utility vehicles. 

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation on Sunday issued travel bans on box trucks, tractor trailers, tandem trucks, and special permit trucks on all state highways. Trucks hauling food, fuel, or medical supplies are exempt from the ban. Subways, buses, and rail lines will also operate on reduced schedules throughout Monday. 

New Jersey issued travel bans for all vehicles on all major roadways except the New Jersey Turnpike from 9 p.m. on Sunday until 7 a.m. Monday, February 23rd. All public transportation services have been halted until the state determines conditions have improved. 

A state of emergency was issued for several counties in New York on Sunday evening. A travel ban on empty tractor trailers and tandem trailers was put into place on Interstate 84 and all roads south of I-84 at 4 p.m. on Sunday until further notice. All other commercial vehicles are restricted to the right lane of I-84 and the right lane of all roadways south of I-84. A travel ban has also been issued for New York City until noon on Monday. All vehicles are banned from driving on city streets except for emergency travel.