On Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, a powerful blizzard struck the U.S. Northeast, at one point placing more than 40 million people under winter warnings as heavy snow and hurricane-force winds swept the region. The National Weather Service reported as much as 3 feet (36 inches) of snow in parts of New Jersey, Rhode Island and Long Island, New York, with snowfall expected to continue into the evening. State leaders declared emergencies and imposed travel limits while utilities and transit agencies worked to restore service and reopen roads. By early Monday evening at least 500,000 customers were without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
Key takeaways
- More than 40 million people were under winter storm warnings at the storm’s peak on Feb. 23, 2026, as the system moved across the Northeast.
- The National Weather Service recorded up to 3 feet (36 inches) of snow in localized areas of New Jersey, Rhode Island and Long Island, New York.
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned the storm could rank among New York City’s top 10 worst in 150 years, prompting emergency declarations and travel restrictions.
- New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Connecticut declared states of emergency; 20 New York counties were also under emergency orders.
- Large-scale school closures and thousands of flight cancellations were reported nationwide, straining transportation hubs and airlines.
- Power outages affected at least 500,000 customers in the region as of early Monday evening, per PowerOutage.us data.
- NOAA GOES-East satellite imagery released by the National Weather Service showed the storm’s broad scale and intensity across the Northeast.
Background
Typical late‑winter cyclogenesis over the Atlantic combined with a strong cold air mass over the continent to fuel a fast‑moving nor’easter that intensified as it tracked along the coast. Coastal temperature gradients and abundant Atlantic moisture helped the system rapidly deepen, producing heavy, wet snow and severe gusts in a short span. The Northeast’s varied terrain and urban footprint — from Long Island and coastal New Jersey to inland Connecticut and upstate New York — create sharp contrasts in snowfall and wind impacts over relatively short distances. Cities with dense infrastructure and aging overhead power lines are particularly vulnerable to heavy, wet snow and sustained high winds, which increase outage risk and complicate roadway clearing.
Recent winters have seen a growing frequency of high‑impact coastal storms, prompting investments in grid hardening, tree management and emergency planning across state and local governments. Nevertheless, many municipalities still rely on mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions and state assets for snow removal and restoration in extreme events. Airports and airlines typically invoke contingency plans during major storms; even so, when visibility and runway conditions deteriorate quickly, cancellations and delays can cascade nationally. The storm’s timing and intensity forced simultaneous responses from multiple agencies, stretching crews and delaying recovery in hard-hit pockets.
Main event
The storm began to intensify overnight Sunday and moved along the Atlantic coast into Monday, producing heavy snowfall bands and gusts that reached hurricane force in exposed coastal locations. Emergency declarations landed in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Connecticut early Monday; New York authorities added 20 counties under emergency orders as the system tracked past the state. Snow accumulations varied sharply, with the National Weather Service confirming up to 36 inches in select low‑lying and coastal zones of New Jersey, Rhode Island and Long Island.
Transportation systems felt the impact immediately: thousands of flights were canceled nationwide as major hubs in the Northeast curtailed operations, and statewide travel restrictions were used in several places to keep roads clear for plows and emergency vehicles. School districts announced widespread closures, shifting to remote learning or delaying classes where possible. Utility companies reported extensive outages as heavy, wet snow and trees took down lines; by early Monday evening PowerOutage.us logged at least 500,000 customers without electricity across the region.
Authorities urged residents to avoid nonessential travel, prepare for extended outages, and check on vulnerable neighbors. Emergency management centers opened shelters for people without heat or power, and crews worked through the day to clear key arteries. Satellite imagery supplied by GOES‑East and posted by the National Weather Service illustrated the storm’s size and speed, aiding situational awareness for forecasters and response coordinators alike.
Analysis & implications
From an emergency‑management perspective, the storm highlighted ongoing vulnerabilities in regional infrastructure. Heavy, wet snow combined with high winds produces a higher probability of tree failures and utility line damage than lighter, powdery snow, lengthening restoration times and increasing repair costs. Urban areas with concentrated populations and layered infrastructure (transit, subways, commuter rails) face greater logistical challenges for clearing and restoring services than rural communities, even if absolute snowfall totals are similar.
Economically, the shutdowns at airports and roadways have immediate ripple effects: supply chains, labor availability and retail activity are interrupted for hours to days. For airlines and logistics firms, rapid cancellation cycles cause persistent rescheduling and customer service pressures. Municipal budgets also absorb significant unplanned costs for overtime labor, equipment fuel and contracted tree removal; smaller towns with limited reserves can feel this strain for months after a major storm.
In a climate context, a single storm does not confirm long‑term trends, but the event fits a pattern of intense, moisture‑rich coastal storms in recent years. Warmer seas can increase atmospheric moisture content, enabling heavier precipitation rates when storms develop and track near the coast. Planners and utilities are increasingly factoring such extremes into resilience projects, though implementation timelines and funding vary widely across jurisdictions.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Reported value | Location/notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum snowfall | Up to 36 in (3 ft) | Parts of New Jersey, Rhode Island, Long Island (NWS) |
| Population under warnings | 40 million+ | Region-wide at storm peak |
| Power outages | ~500,000 customers | Reported early Monday evening (PowerOutage.us) |
| Counties under emergency (NY) | 20 counties | State emergency declarations |
The table above summarizes the most reliable numeric measures available during the storm’s active phase. Because conditions were evolving, local snowfall totals and outage counts were being updated through the evening and into the next day. Comparatively, the storm’s 36‑inch maximum places it among the larger single‑storm accumulations recorded on parts of the Mid‑Atlantic and New England coastline in modern records, though precise historical ranking for individual cities requires post‑storm quality control of reports.
Reactions & quotes
“It could rank among New York City’s top 10 worst storms in 150 years,”
Governor Kathy Hochul (statement)
Governor Hochul used the remark to underscore the seriousness of the forecast and to justify broad state support for local response, including activating the National Guard and state transportation resources where needed.
“Satellite imagery shows how massive the winter storm is as it wallops the Northeast with heavy snow and high winds,”
National Weather Service New York City (social post)
The National Weather Service posted GOES‑East satellite imagery to visualize the storm’s scale for officials and the public, a common tool during large, rapidly evolving systems.
“At least 500,000 customers were without power”
PowerOutage.us (data aggregator)
PowerOutage.us provided near‑real‑time outage counts that utilities and emergency managers used to prioritize repair crews and allocate mutual aid across affected areas.
Unconfirmed
- Final, post‑storm verified snowfall totals for many municipalities remain provisional until field surveys and automated data are collated.
- Comprehensive statewide tallies of infrastructure damage and insured losses are still being compiled and have not been finalized.
- Exact timelines for full power restoration by affected utilities vary by company and remain tentative as crews continue assessments.
Bottom line
This blizzard delivered high‑impact snow and wind across a wide swath of the Northeast, producing localized depths up to 3 feet, major travel disruptions and substantial power outages. The combination of heavy, wet snow and hurricane‑force gusts increased the likelihood of tree and line damage, complicating restoration efforts and emergency responses in several states.
In the days ahead, expect incremental reporting as crews clear roads, utilities restore service and officials finalize damage assessments. The storm will likely prompt renewed attention to resilience investments for power, transportation and emergency logistics in coastal Northeastern states, even as immediate priorities remain life safety and rapid restoration.