February 24, 2026 — Providence, R.I. — A powerful nor’easter, named Winter Storm Hernando in some reports, intensified into a bomb cyclone and struck the Northeast U.S. on February 22-23, delivering record snowfall including 32.8 to 33.5 inches here at T.F. Green Airport—surpassing the 1978 blizzard’s 28.6 inches—along with hurricane-force winds up to 83 mph, thundersnow and massive disruptions.
Providence’s measurement marked the city’s snowiest storm and two-day total on record, fueled by ideal “Goldilocks” conditions of moisture, cold and lift, according to the Associated Press. New York City recorded 19.1 inches at Central Park and up to 24.1 inches in Staten Island, prompting its first blizzard warning in nearly a decade.
The storm dumped 2 feet or more across five states, with 36.2 inches reported in nearby Warwick, R.I., per NBC News live updates and CNN coverage.
Impacts were severe: more than 5,685 flights canceled nationwide, with about 90% at New York-area airports; over 600,000 power outages, mainly in Massachusetts and New Jersey; states of emergency declared; travel bans including New York City until noon February 23 and New Jersey commercial vehicles; school closures in New York City and Boston; and widespread business shutdowns, NBC News reported.
Massive winter storm… first blizzard warning for NYC in nearly a decade.
— ABC News
ABC News Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee highlighted the bomb cyclone’s threat to 40 million under warnings in a video update.
As the storm loosened its grip, cities began digging out from up to 3 feet of snow, with warnings issued on shoveling dangers amid high winds, per Fox Weather and Weather.com.
