Feb. 24, 2026 — Providence, R.I. A powerful nor’easter bomb cyclone battered the U.S. Northeast from February 22-23, dumping record-breaking snowfall topping 37 inches in Providence, Rhode Island, unleashing hurricane-force winds up to 83 mph, and causing massive disruptions for over 50 million people across multiple states.
Providence shattered its all-time single-storm snowfall record of 28.6 inches from the 1978 Blizzard, with official measurements at 32.8-33.5 inches and unofficial reports up to 37.9 inches at T.F. Green Airport. Nearby, Warwick logged 36.2 inches, Cranston 37 inches, and Newport 34 inches, according to WPRI reports.
Snow totals highlighting Providence’s record-breaking 32.8 inches and surrounding areas (Image via @TomNiziol on X).
Other areas saw heavy accumulations, including 31 inches at Islip on Long Island, New York; 14 inches in Philadelphia; up to 36 inches in Westport, Massachusetts; 27.1 inches in Newark, New Jersey; and 3-foot drifts in Connecticut, per CNN and New York Times live updates.
Meteorologists hailed the storm as a “classic” blizzard and “superbomb,” citing ideal conditions of temperature, moisture, and track for maximum snow, including thundersnow. National Weather Service meteorologist Owen Shieh explained:
It hit the ‘Goldilocks situation’ of just the right temperature for wet, heavy snow — any warmer and its precipitation wouldn’t have fallen as snow. Any colder and there wouldn’t have been as much moisture in the air to feed that snowfall.
Private meteorologist Ryan Maue called it “about as intense as you can get.”
WOW- BREAKING: Providence comes in with 32.8” of snow, setting an ALL TIME record and breaking the Record set in the Blizzard of 78.
— Boston Weather Consulting (@BostonWxConsult) February 23, 2026
The storm triggered over 8,000-10,000 flight cancellations nationwide, grounding thousands at New York (JFK, LGA, EWR), Boston Logan, and Philadelphia airports, with American Airlines canceling more than 613 flights. Power outages affected over 500,000 customers, including 300,000 in Massachusetts and 100,000 in Boston and New Jersey. Travel bans were imposed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island counties, stranding 350 vehicles in Massachusetts and halting major highways and plows.
Schools and businesses closed region-wide, Broadway shows were canceled, and transit systems shut down, as detailed in NYT live coverage. Dig-out efforts were expected to take days amid ongoing impacts.
