STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Heavy snow and high winds from the blizzard of 2026 are contributing to car crashes and other hazards that include downed tree limbs and wires on Staten Island.
Mother Nature has walloped the borough with more than a foot of snow and wind gusts close to 60 mph in a fierce storm that began on Sunday. The seemingly relentless storm has shown no signs of weakening on Monday morning.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a state of emergency for New York City with road closures that began at 9 p.m. on Sunday. Emergency and essential travel only is permitted on streets, highways, and bridges. Cars, trucks, scooters and e-bikes are banned through noon on Monday on city roadways.
The blizzard has created dangerous conditions for people who venture out onto the roads.
Cars are careening into snowbanks and stalling in high drifts on streets where the white powder has been accumulating faster than Sanitation is able to remove it.
A car appears to be stuck in the snow on the Korean War Veterans Parkway near Maguire Avenue at about 6:20 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com
A car traveling on the Korean War Memorial Parkway was stuck on the center median near Maguire Avenue in Prince’s Bay early Monday morning. Heavy snow cover remained on the parkway early in the rush hour. Later in the morning, traffic was down to one lane in each direction as snowy, slippery conditions persisted on the parkway.
Snow begins to cover the Korean War Veterans Parkway in Huguenot on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)Owen Reiter
A commercial van was trapped by snow on Main Street near the 123rd Precinct stationhouse before sunrise. Deep ruts were seen in the snow along that major street in Tottenville.
A vehicle blocks traffic on Main Street just past the 123rd Precinct on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.(Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)
MTA buses had to back out of the Eltingville Transit Center at Richmond Avenue and Arthur Kill Road. At one point in the morning, five buses were in line to exit the busy transit hub.
Five MTA buses back out of Armstrong Avenue onto Arthur Kill Road on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.Owen Reiter for the Advance | SILive.com
A tree branch and wires were down at Arden Avenue and Edgegrove Avenue in Annadale. Wind has been felling tree limbs all over the borough and the branches typically become entangled in wires as they fall.
A tree takes out a wire on Arden Avenue and Edgegrove Avenue during the blizzard on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.Owen Reiter for the Advance | SILive.com