Feb. 23, 2026 — Providence, R.I. A powerful nor’easter dubbed a “bomb cyclone” dumped a record 37.9 inches of snow at T.F. Green International Airport near Providence, shattering the city’s previous single-storm mark of 28.6 inches set during the 1978 Blizzard. The storm paralyzed the Northeast with heavy snow, hurricane-force winds and widespread disruptions including travel bans, over 10,000 flight cancellations and power outages impacting more than 500,000 customers.
Record snowfall extended across Rhode Island and neighboring states, with 36.2 inches in Warwick, R.I., 33.7 inches in Whitman, Mass., and 31 inches in areas of New York and Connecticut. New York City recorded nearly 20 inches at Central Park, its ninth-highest on record, triggering a rare nonessential vehicle travel ban until Monday noon. Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee maintained a statewide travel ban overnight, set for reassessment Tuesday.
Airports bore the brunt, with more than 10,000 flights canceled nationwide, primarily at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark and Boston Logan. Transit systems halted, including NJ Transit trains and buses, Amtrak services and several NYC subway lines. Road closures plagued New England, with over 350 vehicles stranded in Massachusetts alone and plows suspended in Providence due to low visibility.
Power outages peaked at over 500,000 across the Northeast, including nearly 300,000 in Massachusetts and 100,000 in New Jersey. Schools closed regionwide, Broadway shows canceled and states of emergency declared in multiple areas.
“This appears to be the most historic blizzard we’ve received,” said Josh Estrella, spokesman for the city of Providence.
“It completely smashed it,” said Candice Hrencecin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boston.
Snow-covered cars in a neighborhood in East Providence, Rhode Island, from Fox Weather coverage (source).
Meteorologists attributed the storm’s intensity to ideal conditions. “The storm hit the ‘Goldilocks situation’ of just the right temperature for wet, heavy snow,” said Owen Shieh of the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center. Ryan Maue, a private meteorologist, called it a “superbomb,” comparable to history’s most impressive blizzards. Winds gusted to 83 mph on Nantucket, Mass.
In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to stay indoors. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey noted slowed power restoration efforts due to ongoing weather. Cleanup continues Tuesday, with schools reopening and flights resuming amid warnings of additional snow mid-week.
Check the NWS snowfall map for interactive totals.
Social media buzzed with confirmations of the Providence record, including posts from weather enthusiasts sharing radar loops and photos.
