State of emergency declared as New York braces for biggest snowstorm in years

New York is bracing for what could be its biggest snowfall in years.

Winter storms have caused widespread delays, with snowfall expected into Saturday morning. New York and New Jersey were put under states of emergency, and airports have experienced some delays and cancellations.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams posted on X to say, "That white stuff is coming, NYC! We're ready for however much we get". He later shared a post showing the salt spreaders and snowploughs out in force, treating the city streets.

The last time the Big Apple experienced heavy snowfall was in 2022, when 8in of snow fell in Central Park. New York governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Friday: "I encourage everyone to monitor local forecasts and avoid unnecessary travel.

If you have to travel, plan ahead, take it slow, and leave plenty of time to get to where you need to go safely." New Jersey governor Tahesha Way wrote on X on Friday: "Due to the severe snowstorm, with the potential of icy and slippery conditions, I have declared a State of Emergency across the state, beginning this afternoon. "Please monitor official updates and remain off the roads unless necessary.

Stay safe, New Jersey!" The New York City area was expected to see between two and five inches of snow, with some areas seeing 6in towards the north, according to the National Weather Service. Six to 11 inches of snow was predicted from upstate New York to Long Island, with 12in possible, the National Weather Service said.

New York's Department of Sanitation has prepared 700 million pounds of salt to treat icy roads. The impact has been felt across the city's three major airports as well as the Philadelphia International Airport.

The cold snap has wreaked havoc from the Midwest to the northeast of the country, during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. NBC News reporter Sam Brock said: "Nationwide, there are more than 6,000 delays, and more than 15,000 cancellations - the lion's share of those at the three New York City area airports.

"There are also hundreds of delays right now in San Francisco and Orlando, with snow falling on Friday at Newark Liberty International Airport". Florida airports have also experienced hundreds of delays.

At Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, a resort southeast of Yosemite National Park, two ski patrollers were injured Friday morning in an avalanche and taken to a hospital, a resort official said. The resort has seen more than 5ft (1.5m) of snow since Tuesday.

As much as two inches (five centimetres) of snowfall an hour was expected in the Sierra Nevada, making mountain pass travel treacherous. Local officials rescued a backcountry skier who was buried in an avalanche Thursday near the Mount Rose ski resort on the edge of Reno..