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A person walks through a winter blizzard snowstorm in Somerville, Massachusetts, on February 23, 2026. — Reuters
– Over two and a half feet of snow paralyzes the U.S. Northeast.
– At least 7,400 flights canceled, with thousands more delayed.
– Millions are stranded as over 600,000 homes and businesses experience power outages.
A massive winter storm blanketed parts of the US Northeast with more than 30 inches (76.2 cm) of snow on Monday, bringing travel to a halt for millions. Roads were closed, train services shut down, and approximately 7,400 flights were canceled.
Many homes and businesses lost power, prompting officials, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, to advise residents to avoid traveling so emergency crews could clear the streets. Schools across New York and neighboring areas shut down, and Broadway theaters went dark.
“New York remains under a state of emergency,” Mamdani stated. “The travel ban has been lifted as of noon today, but a hazardous travel advisory stays in effect until midnight.”
By 1 p.m. ET, over 19 inches (48 cm) of snow had accumulated in Central Park, New York City, and Boston had seen more than 14 inches of snowfall, according to Bob Oravec of the National Weather Service. Winds reaching between 40 and 60 mph (64–100 kph) created snowdrifts several feet high, making recovery efforts difficult.
“It could take about a week to dig out,” Oravec explained.
Philadelphia received 14 inches, while Providence, Rhode Island, recorded over 32 inches — a record for the city.
As of Monday afternoon, more than 608,700 homes and businesses across the country faced power outages, according to PowerOutage.us. This included about 10% of nearly 3 million utility customers in Massachusetts.
Residents expressed astonishment at the snow depth. Sandra Wu, who has lived in Long Island’s New Hyde Park for over two decades, said she had never experienced a winter storm this severe. Her family couldn’t open their front door, and snowdrifts blocked visibility from some windows.
“My husband tried to start digging us out early today through the garage, but it was pointless,” Wu said. The storm dropped about 18 inches of snow, reminding her of the blizzards she faced in Buffalo during the 1990s, where the average snowfall is 92 inches annually.
Her children, ages 13 and five, were excited to have a snow day from school, sleeping in while the storm raged outside.
“We thought we might lose power, but luckily, we didn’t,” she added. “Today, we’re baking and waiting for the snow to stop.”
### Regional Emergency Measures
At least seven states declared states of emergency in response to the storm.
Airports in the region, including JFK, LaGuardia in New York, Logan in Boston, and Newark Liberty, canceled more than 7,400 flights by Monday afternoon and delayed over 2,300 more. Many cancellations extended into Tuesday.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York activated 100 National Guard members to assist in areas like Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley, which bore the brunt of the storm. The United Nations headquarters in Manhattan also closed.
The Department of Homeland Security assured that, despite a funding lapse, FEMA’s disaster response teams would continue operating uninterrupted, providing emergency aid and support.
Massachusetts’s governor, Maura Healey, declared a state of emergency and advised government employees to stay home. Connecticut restricted commercial vehicles from major highways, allowing only emergency and essential freight delivery.
Public transit in New Jersey and Rhode Island came to a halt, with plans to resume service only once the weather improves.
Even ships were caught in the storm; Wu mentioned her elderly in-laws were stranded on a cruise docked in New York Harbor, unable to leave for the Bahamas as planned. Fortunately, they were making the most of the delay, enjoying time with friends and good food.
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