Northeast Blizzard: Travel Chaos, Power Outages, and Record Snowfall
A historic blizzard swept across the Northeastern United States this week, bringing hurricane-force winds, heavy snowfall, and widespread disruption to travel and daily life. Millions of residents from Maryland to Massachusetts are grappling with power outages, school closures, and treacherous road conditions. As of February 25, 2026, recovery efforts are underway, but significant challenges remain.
Record Snowfall and Blizzard Conditions
Rhode Island experienced its largest single snowstorm in recorded history, with a spotter southeast of Warwick reporting 91.4cm (36 inches) of snow as of Monday afternoon according to the National Weather Service. This surpassed the previous record of 72.6cm set during the blizzard of February 1978.
Across the region, 21 cities and towns in New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts had recorded at least 60cm of accumulated snow as reported by the National Weather Service. Remsenburg-Speonk, New York, recorded the highest total at 70cm.
Eighteen airports met the official definition of a blizzard – sustained winds or gusts of 56km/h or more and visibility of less than 400 meters for three consecutive hours – including locations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York according to AccuWeather.
Travel Disruption and Service Suspensions
The storm caused widespread travel chaos. Over 5,600 flights departing or arriving in the United States were canceled as of 12:30 local time, with major disruptions at airports in New York City (JFK and LaGuardia), Boston, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. FlightAware reported. Rhode Island’s TF Green International Airport temporarily suspended all operations.
Mass transit systems were severely impacted. New Jersey Transit suspended rail, bus, light rail, and Access Link services until further notice. NJ Transit reported service suspensions. In New York City, several subway lines experienced major delays, and the Long Island Rail Road was completely suspended. Metro-North commuter trains between New York City and its suburbs also faced delays.
Traffic bans were implemented in Manhattan, New Jersey, and several counties in Massachusetts. Authorities urged residents to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel.
Power Outages and Emergency Response
As of February 25, 2026, over 644,000 customers across the Northeastern U.S. Were without power due to downed trees and power lines caused by hurricane-force winds according to PowerOutage.US. Massachusetts was the hardest hit state, with approximately 291,045 outages, followed by New Jersey with 132,964. In Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 156,000 customers were without power.
Emergency crews are working to restore power, but strong winds and snowdrifts are hampering operations. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey requested residents to work from home if possible to facilitate snow removal and power restoration.
Fatalities and Ongoing Concerns
Tragically, the storm resulted in at least two fatalities in Calvert County, Maryland, when a falling tree struck a vehicle as reported by the local sheriff’s office.
While the worst of the storm appears to have passed, authorities continue to urge caution and advise residents to stay informed about changing conditions. The Long Island Rail Road plans to restore limited service on select branches beginning at 4 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2026, while Metro-North Railroad will operate an enhanced Saturday schedule on the Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven Lines.