February 24, 2026 — New York A historic nor’easter, dubbed the February 2026 North American Blizzard or Winter Storm Hernando, dumped 2-3 feet of snow across parts of New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Massachusetts from February 22-24, with hurricane-force wind gusts up to 50-70 mph causing widespread power outages affecting 500,000-700,000 customers, a New York City travel ban — the first in over a decade — school closures including the city’s first snow day since 2019, and over 10,000 flight cancellations.
The storm, described as a bomb cyclone and the strongest in a decade by officials, led to millions staying home amid shutdowns along the I-95 corridor, whiteout conditions, and thundersnow observed at the World Trade Center. New York City ranks among the top 10 worst snowstorms on record there, with up to 3 feet reported in some areas according to the Washington Post.
New York City Mayor announced the travel ban and school closures, as reported by AP News, paralyzing the region. NBC News detailed extreme weather with up to 2 feet in New Jersey and Long Island, while CNN noted easing of some travel restrictions after accumulations exceeded 2 feet.
Live updates from Fox Weather highlighted power surges and regional impacts, with ABC News comparing it to past historic storms. The event dominates U.S. headlines, outpacing other stories per major outlets.
