Feb. 24, 2026 — Northeast U.S. A historic nor’easter and bomb cyclone struck the Northeast starting February 22-23, delivering blizzard conditions, heavy snowfall up to 36.2 inches in Warwick, Rhode Island, hurricane-force wind gusts to 84 mph, and widespread power outages affecting over 650,000 customers from Maryland to Maine.
Over 40 million people faced blizzard warnings, prompting New York City to issue its first travel ban in nearly a decade, school closures across the region, states of emergency declarations, National Guard activations, and 7,000 to 10,000 flight cancellations at major airports including JFK, LaGuardia, Logan, and Newark.
Public transit systems shut down, roads turned impassable amid whiteout conditions, and downed trees and power lines exacerbated outages, paralyzing the region in what has been described as one of the strongest storms in a decade.
Snow blankets streets and vehicles during the blizzard in the Northeast U.S. (USA Today photo gallery)
In Warwick, Rhode Island, snowfall reached 36.2 inches, while 2 to 3 feet accumulated across parts of New England and the Northeast megalopolis. New York City enforced a citywide travel ban as millions hunkered down.
A massive winter storm slammed the Northeast… more than 40 million people faced dangerous whiteout conditions from Maryland to Maine.
— CBS Evening News X post (6.5k views)
The storm, compared to past major events for its rapid intensification, led to millions staying home, with 59 million under some form of winter weather alerts according to some reports.
Live updates noted 30 million under warnings initially, with NYC schools closed and roads shut. Power outages surged as winds toppled trees onto lines.
Temperatures are expected to rise Wednesday, aiding snow melt, per forecasters. Recovery efforts continue as the region digs out.
For comprehensive snowfall maps and totals, see the Wikipedia entry updated as of today.
