February 23, 2026 — Northeastern United States A historic nor’easter, classified as a bomb cyclone and named Winter Storm Hernando by some outlets, unleashed 2 to 3 feet of snow across parts of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and beyond from February 22 to 23, triggering blizzard warnings for over 40 million people, states of emergency and widespread travel bans.
The storm, the first blizzard warning for New York City since 2017, dumped a record 33.5 inches near Providence, Rhode Island, with heavy, wet snow combined with hurricane-force winds up to 80 mph causing significant disruptions. Over 600,000 customers lost power, primarily in New Jersey and New York, due to downed lines and tree damage.
“Winds like that, combined with heavy, wet snow, are a recipe for damaged trees and prolonged power outages,” said Bryce Williams, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Boston office, as quoted in AP News.
Travel ground to a halt with more than 8,000 flights canceled nationwide, including nearly 1,000 at New York-area airports, and public transit suspensions across the region. New York City imposed a full travel ban from 9 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday, while New Jersey enacted a statewide ban. Schools closed region-wide, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani calling it the “first old-school snow day since 2019.”
Photo: A person rides a bike along Manhattan’s Times Square during snowfall in New York City. (via The Guardian)
States of emergency were declared in New Jersey by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, New York for 22 counties, Pennsylvania by Gov. Josh Shapiro as a disaster emergency, and parts of New England. At least two deaths were reported in Maryland from a tree falling on a car. New Jersey Transit suspended services, and DoorDash halted deliveries in NYC.
Live updates from USA Today and Weather.com highlight ongoing whiteout conditions, with millions urged to stay home. NYC Mayor Mamdani confirmed the travel ban on X, echoing regional shutdowns.
