Northeast Gripped by Historic Blizzard, Millions Under Travel Bans
Millions of residents across the northeastern United States are facing treacherous conditions as a powerful blizzard brought record-breaking snowfall, hurricane-force winds and widespread disruptions on Monday, February 23, 2026. From Maryland to Maine, states declared emergencies, schools and businesses closed, and travel ground to a halt as the storm, dubbed a “classic bomb cyclone/nor’easter,” intensified.
Blizzard Conditions and Travel Disruptions
The National Weather Service warned of “nearly impossible” travel conditions due to heavy snowfall and strong winds, creating whiteout conditions across the densely populated region. Road travel bans were implemented in several areas, including New York City, while blizzard warnings stretched from Maryland to Maine. Cell phone alerts were issued in New York City Sunday night announcing a ban on non-emergency travel through noon Monday. Similar restrictions were position in place in Rhode Island and New Jersey.
Over 5,000 flights were canceled on Monday, with major airports in New York City and Boston particularly affected. Rhode Island’s T.F. Green International Airport temporarily suspended all operations. Public transit systems were also suspended in some areas, and even delivery services like DoorDash halted operations in New York City overnight.
Record Snowfall and Power Outages
Snowfall rates reached 2 to 3 inches per hour from New York through Massachusetts early Monday. Long Island MacArthur Airport reported 22.5 inches of snow as of Monday morning, while Newark, New Jersey, received approximately 18 inches, and Central Park in New York City saw around 15 inches. New London, Connecticut, and North Kingstown, Rhode Island, both recorded 17 inches of snow.
The storm caused widespread power outages, leaving over 500,000 customers in the dark along the East Coast. Massachusetts reported over 212,000 outages, and New Jersey experienced over 128,000. Approximately 10,000 customers on Long Island were also without power. New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that utility crews would restore power as soon as it was safe to do so, acknowledging that winds exceeding 50 mph could delay efforts.
A Historic Storm
Meteorologists described the storm as the strongest in a decade, with some areas receiving over 2 feet of snow. Providence, Rhode Island, broke its all-time snowstorm record with a two-day total of 32.4 inches, surpassing the previous record set during the Blizzard of 1978. The storm is a “bomb cyclone,” defined as a storm that drops at least 24 millibars in pressure within 24 hours.
New York City canceled public school classes, marking the city’s first “old-school” snow day in six years. Philadelphia switched to online learning. Outreach workers focused on assisting homeless individuals by providing shelter and warming centers. Landmarks and cultural institutions, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art and Arlington National Cemetery, announced closures, and Broadway shows were canceled.
Looking Ahead
The National Weather Service indicated that the snow was expected to taper off by Monday afternoon. However, officials are already tracking another storm that could bring additional snow to the region later this week.