Historic Northeast Blizzard Dumps Up to 3 Feet, Cuts Power to Hundreds of Thousands and Snarls New York and New England Travel
An historic nor’easter dumped as much as about 3 feet of snow in parts of New England (Providence 33 inches; an unofficial 37.9 inches at T.F. Green) and produced gusts over 70–80 mph, leaving more than half a million customers without power and causing downed trees and coastal flooding. New York City and several states declared emergencies and imposed travel bans as thousands of flights and commuter services were canceled or suspended, schools and newspapers were disrupted, and residents began digging out amid ongoing hazardous conditions.
📌 Key Facts
- A historic nor'easter/blizzard slammed the Northeast — including New York City and New England — dumping up to about 3 feet of snow in some places (e.g., Providence recorded 33 inches, an unofficial 37.9 inches was reported at T.F. Green; major city totals included Long Island MacArthur 22.5 in, Central Park ~20 in, Newark 18 in, New London and North Kingstown 17 in).
- Blizzard warnings covered a huge swath of the region, placing tens of millions of people under alerts (estimates across reports ranged roughly from 41 million to 50 million) and affecting coastal and densely populated areas from New Jersey through Massachusetts.
- The storm produced very heavy, wet snow (rates up to about 2 inches per hour) combined with extreme winds (forecasts and reports of gusts from 40–70 mph up to 80+ mph in parts of Massachusetts), driving coastal flooding risk and increasing the chance of downed trees and power lines.
- Power outages were widespread: well over 500,000 customers lost electricity across the East Coast, with the heaviest concentrations in Massachusetts and New Jersey and extensive outages on Cape Cod and Long Island.
- Travel across the region was severely disrupted — thousands of flights canceled (reports cited figures from roughly 5,000 up to more than 10,000 cancellations across multiple days), major airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Boston, T.F. Green) suspended or limited operations, NJ Transit halted service, and many roads were closed or subject to nonessential travel bans.
- Local and state officials enacted emergency measures: New York City and New York State declared emergencies, New Jersey declared a state of emergency, NYC issued a citywide nonessential travel ban (cellphone alerts ordered closures of streets/bridges to non‑exempt traffic), and cities imported extra snow‑removal equipment and recruited paid emergency shovelers (city pay increased for shovelers).
- Immediate operational and secondary impacts included school closures (NYC closed Monday; reporting noted in‑person classes resumed Tuesday), the Boston Globe postponing a print edition for the first time in its 153‑year history, millions of residents digging out, and restoration work slowed because high winds made line crews unsafe to work aloft.
📰 Source Timeline (22)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 24, 2026
2:04 PM
Heavy snow and high winds blast Northeast in historic blizzard
New information:
- CBS specifies that Massachusetts saw winds over 80 mph during the blizzard.
- The report notes that another 2,000 flights were grounded on Tuesday, adding to previously reported cancellations.
- Live stand-ups from New York City and Boston document continuing whiteout conditions as the storm’s impacts persist.
1:35 PM
Eye Opener: Historic winter storm hits Northeast
New information:
- CBS packages the ongoing storm impacts as the lead 'Eye Opener' item, underscoring that the region is still 'reeling' in the immediate aftermath.
- The segment explicitly pairs the storm’s fallout with what viewers should expect from President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, signaling how the White House intends to talk about resilience and federal response alongside its broader agenda.
10:04 AM
Record Snowfall Slams New England and Leaves New York City Snarled
New information:
- Providence, R.I., recorded 33 inches of snow by midafternoon Monday, which city officials describe as the most historic blizzard on record there; an unofficial 37.9 inches was logged at nearby T.F. Green International Airport.
- At the storm’s peak, well over 500,000 homes and businesses in the Northeast lost power, including nearly 300,000 in Massachusetts, about 100,000 in New Jersey, and more than 85% of customers on Cape Cod still out as of Monday night.
- Central Park in New York City recorded nearly 20 inches of snow, the ninth‑highest total on record, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani raised pay for emergency shovelers to $30 an hour while keeping schools open in person on Tuesday.
- NJ Transit halted all trains, buses and light rail indefinitely on Monday, while more than 5,600 flights were canceled nationwide, with the vast majority in and out of Boston‑ and New York‑area airports.
7:15 AM
Boston Globe postpones print edition for first time, due to blizzard
New information:
- The Boston Globe postponed printing and delivery of its Tuesday print edition for the first time in its 153-year history due to the blizzard.
- Only about 25% of Monday’s Boston Globe papers reached subscribers as snow and wind restricted delivery.
- Snow and winds prevented staff from safely reaching the Globe’s Taunton, Massachusetts printing plant, located in Bristol County where up to 32 inches of snow were recorded.
- Print subscribers will receive Tuesday’s edition on Wednesday, bundled with the Wednesday paper.
12:18 AM
Blizzard slams East Coast as major cities struggle with historic snowfall
New information:
- CBS piece reiterates that more than 40 million people are under blizzard warnings tied to the same historic East Coast storm.
- It emphasizes conditions specifically as 'heavy snow and fierce winds' as the storm impacts major East Coast cities.
- Confirms that network correspondents are seeing cities 'struggle with historic snowfall,' complementing earlier details on power outages and travel bans.
February 23, 2026
11:50 PM
Millions on East Coast blanketed by most snowfall seen in years
New information:
- PBS emphasizes that in some communities this has been the worst blizzard in a decade, highlighting how unusual the snowfall totals are compared with recent years.
- The segment underscores that the storm is compounding what it describes as an already difficult winter, suggesting cumulative strain on residents and services beyond this single event.
11:42 PM
Millions digging out after blizzard brings historic snowfall to East Coast
New information:
- CBS video package reinforces that millions across the Northeast are now in the dig‑out phase after the storm, emphasizing the human and logistical scale of snow‑removal efforts.
- Confirms that 'historic' snowfall totals in some areas translated into 'hundreds of thousands' of power outages, underscoring lingering infrastructure strain even after the snow stops.
8:40 PM
Snow still falling across Northeast U.S. as massive blizzard continues track
New information:
- CBS reports that more than half a million power outages have been recorded across the East Coast.
- Confirms the blizzard is still actively tracking across the region with snow continuing to fall from Maryland to Maine.
- Frames the storm as 'historic' while it is still in progress, underscoring severity.
6:16 PM
A powerful winter storm is roiling travel across the northeastern U.S.
New information:
- As of about 12:30 p.m. ET Monday, more than 5,600 flights in or out of the U.S. were canceled, with hundreds more delayed, according to FlightAware.
- New York’s JFK and LaGuardia had the highest number of cancellations, followed by Boston, Newark, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Rhode Island’s T.F. Green, which temporarily suspended all airport operations.
- More than 4,000 U.S. flights were canceled Sunday and over 1,700 Tuesday flights had already been preemptively cut, signaling multi‑day disruption.
- The FAA is urging travelers to monitor airline and airport updates, and multiple carriers (JetBlue, Delta, Southwest, American) have issued weather waivers allowing some customers to rebook without fees.
- The story links the storm’s travel chaos to the ongoing DHS‑only shutdown: Global Entry has been suspended (though TSA PreCheck was kept running) and Mexico cartel violence after El Mencho’s killing has prompted airlines to cancel or adjust flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.
- New York City issued loud cellphone alerts announcing a ban on non‑emergency travel on all streets through noon Monday; Rhode Island and New Jersey imposed similar restrictions, and NYC’s MTA pulled articulated buses from service while warning of subway delays and LIRR suspensions.
4:16 PM
Heavy snow falls in Northeast, with many stuck at home under blizzard warnings and travel bans
New information:
- Updated snowfall totals early Monday: 22.5 inches at Long Island MacArthur Airport, 18 inches in Newark, 15 inches in New York City’s Central Park, and 17 inches in New London, Connecticut, and North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
- Specific Monday operational impacts: more than 5,000 flights in and out of the U.S. canceled, with Rhode Island’s T.F. Green International Airport temporarily suspending all operations.
- Power‑outage detail: more than 500,000 customers without electricity along the East Coast early Monday, including about 212,000 in Massachusetts, 128,000 in New Jersey, and roughly 10,000 on Long Island.
- Concrete description of New York City’s cell‑phone push alert imposing a non‑emergency travel ban on all streets through noon Monday, and similar restrictions in Rhode Island and New Jersey.
- New quotes from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul explaining that 50‑mph winds will delay line crews’ efforts to restore power because they cannot safely work aloft in those conditions.
2:27 PM
Blizzard warnings in effect for 41 million as winter storm slams East Coast
New information:
- CBS pegs the blizzard-warning population at 41 million people, slightly refining earlier estimates that referenced 'more than 50 million' under blizzard warnings in broader coverage.
- Confirms that a ban on nonessential travel is in effect in New York City while the storm is ongoing.
- Specifies that New England could see up to 2 feet of snow with wind gusts over 60 mph as part of this storm system.
2:19 PM
Blizzard warnings, travel bans in effect as brutal storm pounds Northeast
New information:
- Axios focuses on the same ongoing Northeast blizzard, reiterating that blizzard warnings cover a large swath of the region and that New York and New Jersey have imposed travel bans.
- It underscores that the storm is already 'pounding' the Northeast, emphasizing hazardous conditions rather than only forecasts.
- The story highlights that bans and warnings are now in effect, reinforcing that this is an active, not merely anticipated, emergency.
1:27 PM
Travel bans in effect, thousands of flights canceled as storm slams Northeast
New information:
- More than 10,000 flights have been canceled through Tuesday, including over 5,300 on Monday and more than 3,400 on Sunday, with about 1,300 already canceled for Tuesday.
- New York City’s nonessential travel ban runs until noon Monday, and additional travel restrictions are in place for Long Island, Westchester and parts of New Jersey.
- More than 400,000 power outages are reported across the East Coast, with the heaviest concentrations in Massachusetts and New Jersey.
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the storm is expected to rank among the top 10 worst winter storms in the region over the last 150 years.
- CBS details near‑two‑foot snow totals in parts of New Jersey and Long Island, and reports of drivers abandoning cars amid hours‑long delays on I‑95 and Connecticut highways.
1:24 PM
Winter storm causes travel chaos, forces thousands of flights to be canceled
New information:
- CBS pegs the air-travel impact at more than 10,000 flights canceled since Sunday due specifically to the East Coast winter storm.
- The CBS segment, via correspondent Kris Van Cleave, focuses on when airline service is expected to restart following the storm-related shutdowns.
3:41 AM
2/22: CBS Weekend News
New information:
- CBS Weekend News segment reiterates that roughly 50 million people are under blizzard warnings as the nor’easter arrives.
- It reinforces that the storm is now actively impacting the East Coast, not just forecast.
- No materially new figures or policy actions beyond what is already in the existing detailed storm story.
1:01 AM
Massive snowstorm hits East Coast: What to know
New information:
- CBS segment reiterates that the massive winter storm has already begun impacting parts of the East Coast, with heavy snow, strong winds and dangerous flooding expected across multiple states.
- Confirms forecasters’ focus on both inland snow/wind impacts and coastal flooding as the system comes ashore, aligning with and reinforcing prior warnings.
12:47 AM
50 million under blizzard warnings, NYC issues travel ban as nor'easter arrives
New information:
- Updated scope figure: more than 50 million people in the Northeast are now under blizzard warnings, up from the earlier 'more than 30 million' framing.
- New York City has issued a travel ban tied to the incoming nor’easter, in addition to earlier emergency declarations and school closures.
- CBS reports that conditions are 'rapidly deteriorating' as the storm moves up the coast, indicating the shift from forecast to impact phase.
February 22, 2026
10:33 PM
Northeast readies for a major winter storm, with blizzard warnings in effect
New information:
- NWS forecaster Cody Snell now projects at least 18 inches to 2 feet of snow from New Jersey through Massachusetts, stressing heavy, wet snow that will weigh down trees and power lines.
- NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered all New York City public schools closed Monday and urged residents to stay inside and call 311 for people needing assistance.
- NYC Comptroller Mark Levine detailed a citywide travel ban from 9 p.m. Sunday through noon Monday closing all bridges, highways and streets to non‑exempt traffic.
- As of 5:30 p.m. ET Sunday, FlightAware reported more than 5,100 U.S. flights delayed and over 3,300 canceled due to the storm, and Amtrak announced route adjustments through Monday.
- LaGuardia and JFK warned of 'significant travel impacts' and urged passengers to check flight status before heading to the airports; portions of Virginia, D.C. and Maryland are also expected to receive snow.
6:02 PM
Zohran Mamdani declares NYC emergency, bans all travel during blizzard threatening city
New information:
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a local state of emergency ahead of the blizzard.
- Mamdani ordered a city‑wide travel ban closing all city streets, highways, and bridges to non‑emergency traffic from 9 p.m. Sunday until noon Monday, applying to cars, trucks, scooters, and e‑bikes with narrow exemptions for emergency and critical workers.
- More than 7,000 flights had been canceled across the Northeast as of Sunday afternoon, with NYC, Boston, and Philadelphia all forecast to receive 18–24 inches of snow and gusts up to 70 mph.
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also declared a State of Emergency for New York City, and NYC’s sanitation department is recruiting temporary snow shovelers at $19.14–$28.71 per hour for storm response.
5:49 AM
Blizzard warnings send East Coast scrambling to prepare for heavy snow and strong winds
New information:
- Confirms that NWS has issued blizzard warnings not just for New York City but also Long Island, Boston and coastal communities in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
- Adds updated NWS guidance that 1–2 feet of snow is possible across many areas, with some of the heaviest snow and 2‑inch‑per‑hour rates expected overnight Sunday into Monday.
- Details pre‑storm preparations, including New York City importing additional snow‑removal equipment from outside the city, expanded use of geocoding to prioritize bus stops and crosswalks, and officials publicly weighing school closures.
- Provides expert context from Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Cody Snell that it has been 'several years' since a nor’easter of this magnitude hit such a large, densely populated region.
February 21, 2026
8:45 PM
Blizzard conditions and high winds forecast for NYC, East coast
New information:
- NYC Emergency Management is now projecting up to 17 inches of snow citywide, with a worst‑case scenario of nearly two feet.
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly urged residents to 'stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary' and to check on neighbors.
- New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has declared a state of emergency effective midday Sunday ahead of the storm.
- NWS expects heavy, wet snow with rates up to 2 inches per hour, combined with 40–70 mph wind gusts that raise risks of power outages and coastal flooding.
- NYC officials warn the Monday morning commute will be 'extremely hazardous,' with potential closures of schools, medical offices and workplaces.