News - Delivery services have been paused in NYC due to a severe blizzard alert.

As a formidable blizzard bears down on New York City, major food delivery services such as Grubhub and DoorDash have ceased operations temporarily, ensuring the safety of their drivers amidst the hazardous weather conditions. The blizzard, which has prompted a citywide travel ban enforced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, began spiraling into the region Sunday night. Grubhub suspended its operations at 7:30 p.m., while DoorDash followed suit, halting its service at 8:30 p.m., thirty minutes before the obligatory 9 p.m. travel ban. This closure is expected to last until at least noon on Monday. Meteorologists are describing the phenomenon as a 'historic bomb cyclone,' with projections estimating snowfall of up to two feet across parts of the northeastern corridor, accompanied by winds gusting up to 60 mph. As a precaution, Mayor Mamdani has declared a state of emergency, restricting traffic on all city streets, highways, and bridges to non-emergency vehicles only, which includes private cars, scooters, and e-bikes, effective Sunday evening. The delivery platforms emphasize the paramount importance of the safety of their couriers, known as Dashers, advocating for their protection by keeping them off potentially treacherous roads. DoorDash has stated its commitment to continually monitoring weather patterns and governmental advisories to provide real-time updates to their networks, including merchants and consumers. The dynamic situation has already led to widespread travel disruptions, with thousands of flights being canceled across the Eastern United States as airports also brace for the impact. Mayor Mamdani continues to urge residents to remain indoors, emphasizing community support and safety during this weather crisis by catering to sustenance needs at home where possible. As weather conditions progress, both Grubhub and DoorDash pledge ongoing assessments regarding resuming services. Similar contingencies may affect other familiar providers such as Uber Eats and Instacart, though they have yet to release statements regarding service disruptions. The city remains on high alert, prepared to address the storm's challenges while prioritizing the welfare of residents and essential workers across New York City and the greater metropolitan area.