Feb. 24, 2026 — Providence, R.I. — A historic nor’easter, known as a bomb cyclone, pummeled the Northeast United States starting February 22, dropping up to 37.9 inches of snow at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick near Providence, Rhode Island, and more than 2 feet across New England, New York and New Jersey. The storm led to over 10,000 flight cancellations nationwide, according to FlightAware, and 500,000 to 600,000 power outages.
New York City hunkered down under its first blizzard warning and travel ban in nearly a decade, with bans extending from Washington, D.C., to NYC amid whiteout conditions. Winds gusted to hurricane-force speeds of 60-70 mph or more, overwhelming plows and stranding vehicles, as reported in New York Times live coverage.
Snow accumulation in NYC, where 19 inches fell, complicating cleanup efforts (image via social media reports).
States of emergency were declared in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, with widespread school and business closures and transit shutdowns affecting millions. USA Today and NBC News noted dangerous conditions persisting into February 24 as the storm exited.
Video: NYC travel ban enforced amid bomb cyclone
Footage shared by Brandon Straka shows empty streets under the travel ban.
The Associated Press described the event as a huge snowstorm forcing millions home, while ABC News compared it to past storms. Early forecasts underestimated totals, with BBC News initially predicting 1-2 feet for NYC. Eyewitness posts on X, including from The News Bee, confirmed school closures and heavy snow.
