February 24, 2026 — New York A historic bomb cyclone, or nor’easter also called Winter Storm Hernando in some reports, dumped 2 to 3 feet of snow across the Northeast U.S. from New Jersey to Massachusetts on February 23-24, prompting New York City’s first travel ban in over a decade, canceling more than 11,000 flights, causing power outages for hundreds of thousands including 400,000 reported, and shutting down schools, roads, and transit systems.
Reuters reported more than 19 inches of snow in New York City’s Central Park, with school closures and major transit disruptions. The Associated Press described the storm as the strongest in a decade, delivering over 2 feet of snow amid thundersnow and hurricane-force winds due to ideal meteorological conditions for heavy snowfall.
ABC News reports on over 11,000 flight cancellations with recovery expected to take days. (Watch video)
NPR noted blizzard warnings with up to 2 feet of snow expected from New Jersey to Massachusetts, as New York City’s mayor described it as the worst storm in a decade. State emergencies were declared in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware, and Rhode Island amid the impacts.
The New York Daily News warned of a travel nightmare for NYC commuters potentially extending to Tuesday. NBC News provided live updates on blizzard warnings and travel bans.
Aaxios highlighted blizzard warnings and travel bans in effect for the brutal storm. FOX Weather offered live tracking of the historic blizzard and bomb cyclone.
Social media buzz on X included high-engagement posts from @NYDailyNews, @axios, and others sharing real-time updates on outages and disruptions.
