Feb. 24, 2026 — Northeast U.S. A massive nor’easter blizzard battered the region from Maryland to Maine starting February 22-23, dumping up to 3 feet of snow in parts of New England, triggering states of emergency in multiple states including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware, and causing over 500,000 power outages and more than 5,600 flight cancellations.
The storm, described as a bomb cyclone, produced record snowfall including 36.2 inches in Warwick, Rhode Island, and 32.8 inches at T.F. Green Airport there, breaking a 1978 record, while Central Park in New York City recorded 19 inches and Newark Liberty International Airport saw 27.1 inches, the second-snowiest on record, according to AP News and CNN.
New York City imposed its first travel ban in over a decade, lifted at noon on February 24, while blizzard warnings affected over 40 million people across a 700-mile zone. Winds gusted over 70 mph, creating whiteout conditions, downed trees and power lines. Power outages peaked above 600,000 customers, with nearly 290,000 in Massachusetts, 135,000 in New Jersey and over 60,000 in Delaware, per NBC News.
“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,” National Weather Service meteorologist Owen Shieh told AP News.
Schools closed across the region, including New York City’s first traditional snow day in six years, Broadway shows were canceled and major airports like JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and Boston Logan saw thousands of cancellations.
CBS Mornings post showing impacts across 11 states, including potential record snow in New England (source).
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to stay indoors amid hazardous conditions.
“These are dangerous conditions. Not only is snow continuing to fall, accumulated snowfall and refreezing have made it hazardous to travel. If you can, remain indoors,” Mamdani said, per NBC News.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey warned of dangerous roads, while New York’s Division of Homeland Security urged people to stay off roads in NYC, Long Island and the Hudson Valley to aid plows and first responders (NYSDHSES post).
The American Red Cross offered safety tips for outages and cold.
“Extreme blizzard conditions are causing power outages, road closures and flight cancellations across the Northeast… Try these tips to stay safe and warm at home if your power goes out,” the organization posted (Red Cross).
Recovery efforts included $30-per-hour emergency shoveling pay in NYC, as announced by Mayor Mamdani.
