February 24, 2026 — Providence, R.I. — A massive bomb cyclone nor’easter battered the U.S. Northeast starting February 23, shattering snowfall records with over 32 inches in Providence — breaking the 1978 mark of 28.6 inches — and 36.2 inches in nearby Warwick, alongside extreme winds up to 80 mph creating whiteouts and drifts to 3 feet high.
The storm prompted states of emergency from seven governors, including New York’s Kathy Hochul, Massachusetts’ Maura Healey, New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Delaware. National Guard units were activated in New York and Massachusetts, where 200 members aided recovery.
Power outages surged past 600,000 customers regionwide, with nearly 300,000 in Massachusetts and 135,000 in New Jersey as of late February 23. Travel bans took effect in New York City — the first in over a decade — New Jersey, Rhode Island, parts of Massachusetts including Cape Cod, and Connecticut, halting public transit in NYC, Boston and Philadelphia. Over 10,000 flights were canceled nationwide.
Snow blankets the Northeast amid historic blizzard conditions. (Image via X post by @XTheNewsBeeX)
Schools closed across the region, including New York City’s first snow day since 2019. Businesses shuttered, Broadway shows canceled and millions were ordered to stay home.
“Totals in many places in the state have already exceeded 2 feet, certainly in eastern Massachusetts, and it’s going to continue to keep falling, we expect, until later this evening,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said.
“Though the travel ban has lifted, conditions on the road are still icy and dangerous… If you can, remain indoors,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged.
At least two deaths were reported amid the storm, which featured thundersnow in some areas. Snowfall included 19.7 inches at Central Park in NYC, 29.1 inches in Islip, Long Island, and 15 inches in Boston.
Conditions persisted into February 24, with cleanup underway as live updates continued from outlets like NBC News and The New York Times.
