February 24, 2026 — Northeast United States A historic nor’easter, known as the February 2026 North American blizzard or Winter Storm Hernando, struck from Maryland to Massachusetts starting February 22, blanketing New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts with 2 to 3 feet of snow, prompting blizzard warnings for over 40 million people, states of emergency in major cities and the first travel ban in New York City in over a decade.
Hurricane-force winds reached 84 mph, causing widespread power outages for more than 650,000 customers and extreme travel disruptions across the region, according to CNN.
New York City enacted a travel ban from 9 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday, while southeast Massachusetts counties—Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable—issued similar restrictions. States of emergency were declared in New York City, Boston and Philadelphia amid school closures and road shutdowns.
Snow blankets New York City and surrounding areas, as captured in New York Times video coverage.
Airlines faced massive disruptions, with 5,000 to 10,000 flights canceled nationwide, primarily at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Philadelphia and Boston airports. JetBlue, Delta and American Airlines were among the hardest hit.
Record snowfall included 36.2 inches in Warwick, Rhode Island, contributing to half a million customers without power, per New York Times live updates and Washington Post snowfall analysis.
New York City issues first travel ban in over a decade amid blizzard.
— Update (@handle)February 23, 2026
The storm’s “Goldilocks” conditions—ideal temperature and moisture—enabled massive accumulations, rivaling past events, as noted in AP News. Reuters reported paralyzing effects on roads and schools, while CNN maps visualized the bomb cyclone’s path.
Live coverage continues on NBC News, Weather.com and local outlets like Boston Globe, with X posts providing real-time updates from areas under bans.
