February 24, 2026 — Northeast U.S.
A powerful nor’easter, dubbed the Blizzard of 2026 or Winter Storm Hernando, struck from Maryland to Maine on February 23-24, delivering record snowfall of up to 37.9-38 inches at Rhode Island’s T.F. Green International Airport and causing widespread power outages affecting over 600,000 customers, thousands of flight cancellations, school closures, and travel bans in major cities.
Blizzard conditions with hurricane-force winds exceeding 70 mph and heavy, wet snow led to peak outages of 608,000 customers, primarily in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, according to Reuters and BBC reports. The Associated Press noted more than 450,000 outages, while The New York Times live updates reported over 300,000 in Massachusetts alone and 100,000 in New Jersey.
Travel disruptions were severe, with 5,000 to 10,000 flight cancellations at hubs including Boston Logan (BOS), John F. Kennedy (JFK), Newark (EWR), and Philadelphia (PHL). Reuters specified 7,400 cancellations, and travel bans were imposed in New York City, Boston, and Providence. Schools closed across the region, including New York City’s first snow day since 2019, as reported by NPR.
Snowfall shattered records, with The Washington Post confirming 37.9 inches in Providence, Rhode Island, under ideal “Goldilocks” conditions. CBS News Boston reported up to 41 inches in southeastern Massachusetts spots, while Weather.com noted 32.8 inches at T.F. Green as a new record. At least two fatalities were reported, per the Wikipedia entry.
Cleanup and power restoration efforts continued on February 24, with USA Today tracking ongoing outages and flight delays. The storm also postponed a United Nations meeting, according to AP.
Real-time posts confirm impacts: 5k+ flights canceled, states of emergency, NYC travel ban.
— X Post ([link](https://x.com/i/status/2025923235699703900))
Additional coverage from ABC News emphasized safety amid the blizzard, as millions stayed home.
