Feb. 24, 2026 — A historic bomb cyclone and nor’easter dumped up to 3 feet of snow across the Northeast from Philadelphia to Cape Cod, with wind gusts exceeding 80-98 mph, prompting states of emergency in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware and Rhode Island.
The storm led to widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands, over 10,000 flight cancellations, travel bans in major cities including a full ban in New York City—the first in over a decade—and school closures across the region. Millions remained at home as hurricane-force winds battered coastal areas.
Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod were hardest hit, with 80+ mph gusts, heavy snow bands, 85% power outages on Cape Cod, and record gusts of 98 mph in Wellfleet and 83 mph in Nantucket. New York City saw 7 inches early, with 18-24 inches expected and its travel ban in effect through Monday noon before easing.
Live updates from major outlets detailed the paralysis: CBS News on Boston-area impacts, The New York Times on record New England snowfall, and CNN and NBC News on flight chaos and New York schools reopening post-ban. NPR reported travel halted from Delaware to New England.
Real-time social media posts captured the scale, including one noting 2 feet of snow, 70 mph winds, 10,000 flights canceled, 400,000 power outages and the NYC ban and another on 5,000+ flights and emergencies in major cities.
Additional coverage from Reuters highlighted lingering hazardous advisories as communities dug out.
