A fierce winter blizzard slammed the northeastern United States on Monday, burying several areas under heavy snow and bringing daily life to a halt for millions.
Heavy snowfall paralyses major cities
According to a Reuters report, the powerful storm dropped more than a foot of snow in many locations. Roads were shut, train services were suspended, and more than 5,700 flights were canceled.
Large numbers of homes and businesses lost electricity as strong winds damaged power lines. Authorities repeatedly asked people to remain indoors and avoid travel.
“I’m urging every New Yorker to please stay home,” Reuters quoted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as telling residents.
Schools across several states closed due to the dangerous weather conditions.
Snowfall totals continue to rise
By 8 am, Central Park in New York City had recorded more than 15 inches of snow. Bob Oravec, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, told Reuters that another 5 to 6 inches were expected before the storm weakens later in the day.
“It’s a pretty big storm and it’s definitely a blizzard,” he said, highlighting wind gusts between 40 and 60 mph from Delaware to Boston.
“It’ll probably take a week to dig out,” he added.
@NWSBoston @WX1BOX
— Joshua Allan (@SNewEngweather) February 24, 2026
Fall River, MA
Snowfall: 41”
2/23/26
7:45pm
Spotter: 16-583
I’ve never seen so much snow in my entire life! pic.twitter.com/6iv5RuuNuH
Boston had already received about 6 inches of snow, while parts of Delaware and southern New England saw between 12 and 18 inches. Philadelphia reported close to a foot of accumulation.
Although snowfall in New York City is expected to ease by Monday afternoon, Boston and upper New England are likely to continue seeing snow through the night.
Blizzard conditions confirmed
Meteorologists classified the system as a blizzard because wind gusts exceeded 35 mph for at least three hours. Some areas reported even stronger winds. Stony Brook Village on Eastern Long Island and Nantucket Island experienced gusts above 60 mph.
In some parts of the Northeast, snowfall could reach up to two feet, with winds possibly touching 70 mph. The Department of Homeland Security warned that such conditions increase the risk of falling trees and widespread power failures.
Massive travel disruption
Flight tracking site FlightAware reported that airlines had canceled more than 5,700 flights by Monday morning, with another 900 delayed. More than 1,600 flights scheduled for Tuesday were also scrapped.
Major airports hit by cancellations included John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport.
Public transport systems were also severely affected. Train and bus services in New Jersey were halted, and Rhode Island’s transit authority suspended operations until weather conditions improve.
Emergency measures across states
New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed 100 National Guard members to assist in Long Island, New York City, and the Lower Hudson Valley.
The storm even forced the closure of the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan.
In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency and directed state employees to stay home. Connecticut officials banned commercial vehicles from limited-access highways, except for essential and emergency deliveries.
Despite a partial federal government shutdown, the Federal Emergency Management Agency continued disaster response work, focusing on protecting lives and property.
The powerful blizzard has left the region struggling with blocked roads, grounded flights, and widespread outages. Recovery efforts are expected to take several days once the storm finally clears.