Lead
Who: A major winter storm that moved across southern New England on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. When/Where: The system brought heavy snow and strong coastal winds from western Massachusetts through Cape Cod and the Islands. What/Result: Providence recorded a new single-storm snowfall record of 32.8 inches, surpassing the Blizzard of ’78 total of 28.6 inches, while the Boston region saw widespread accumulations of 12 to 24 inches and damaging gusts along the coast. The system is slowly shifting east and tapering off through the evening.
Key Takeaways
- Providence recorded 32.8 inches of snow as of early afternoon on Feb. 23, 2026, eclipsing the Blizzard of ’78 record of 28.6 inches by 4.2 inches.
- Greater Boston totals ranged broadly: 12–18 inches inside and east of Route 495 toward the Route 95 corridor, and roughly 16–24 inches along the Boston–Providence corridor, with isolated higher amounts.
- Logan Airport reported 14.4 inches as of 1 p.m.; additional light accumulation of 1–3 inches was expected east of 495 through the afternoon (as of 2 p.m.).
- Strong coastal winds produced peak gusts of 83 mph at Nantucket, 77 mph at Wellfleet, 70 mph at Hull, and a 68 mph gust at Logan Airport in the late morning.
- Snow will largely end near Boston within an hour or two of 7 p.m., with most accumulation finished by about 5 p.m.; Cape Cod and the Islands will be last to see winds subside.
- Temperatures will fall toward the 20s overnight, with sunshine and readings near freezing expected on Tuesday; a minor system is possible Wednesday (a coating to a couple inches).
- With deep snow cover, melt will be slow; notable thinning is likely by the second week of March, but early March will remain wintry.
Background
New England is climatologically accustomed to strong winter storms, but record single-storm totals remain rare in populated city centers. The Blizzard of ’78 (Feb. 1978) has long stood as the benchmark for catastrophic snow in the region; Providence’s prior official event maximum was 28.6 inches from that storm. Municipal snow-removal plans, utility preparedness, and airport operations are typically calibrated for multi-inch to foot-plus events, yet rare records require extended staffing, equipment turnover, and mutual-aid from neighboring jurisdictions.
Coastal New England faces a compound threat in strong nor’easters: heavy snowfall inland combined with high winds and coastal surge on the ocean-facing side. That combination stresses power grids—when heavy, wet snow and gusts coincide—as well as transportation systems and emergency services. Local authorities balance clearance priorities between major arterials, emergency routes, transit hubs and neighborhood streets, a choice that affects resident mobility and business operations for days after the storm.
Main Event
The storm intensified over the weekend and became most impactful on Monday, Feb. 23, as a strong pressure gradient set up along the Atlantic coast. Snow rates in the heaviest bands reached multiple inches per hour in places, producing rapid accumulations. By early afternoon, Providence had exceeded the Blizzard of ’78 mark, with an official measurement of 32.8 inches recorded by local observation sites.
Across the Boston metropolitan area, snowfall was uneven but substantial. Areas inside Route 495, including parts of Somerville near the McGrath Highway, saw 12–18 inches. The corridor from Boston southward to Providence generally received 16–24 inches, with municipal reports indicating several neighborhoods at the upper end of that range. Meteorologists noted localized bursts that pushed some spots beyond the typical corridor totals.
Winds were a defining part of the event on coastal exposures. Nantucket logged an 83 mph gust, Wellfleet 77 mph, Hull 70 mph and Logan Airport a 68 mph gust, producing blowing snow, drifting onshore, and localized utility outages. Forecasters said that if a household still had power by midafternoon and was east of the heaviest gusts, the likelihood of losing service later that day diminished as the strongest winds moved offshore.
Timing: models and field reports indicated the heaviest snowfall would taper through the afternoon, with most accumulation complete by about 5 p.m. and snow ending in the Boston area within an hour or two after 7 p.m. A final 1–3 inches east of Route 495 was still possible as of 2 p.m., chiefly in coastal neighborhoods and islands where gusts lingered longest.
Analysis & Implications
Record totals in Providence are significant both as a historic climatological data point and as an operational stress test. Breaking a decades-old city record by more than four inches indicates a concentrated burst of snowfall and presents challenges for urban services—plows, trash collection, transit and emergency access—well beyond routine heavy-snow planning. Cities may face multi-day recovery for clearance of secondary streets and sidewalks.
Strong coastal gusts compound the issue: large wind speeds increase tree and branch failures, which drive the majority of localized power outages in New England. Utility crews already operating on limited daylight hours and cold temperatures face extended response times on islands and exposed seaside towns. For utilities and municipalities, the storm underscores the recurring tension between maintaining access for emergency vehicles and pushing snow to curbside storage that can block drainage during melt.
Economically, the immediate costs include overtime for municipal crews, lost business hours and transit shutdowns at major hubs like Logan, which reported 14.4 inches midafternoon. Insurance and restoration costs are concentrated where wind damaged infrastructure. In the medium term, persistent snowpack delays deliveries, construction and outdoor services; meanwhile, the spring melt timeline affects runoff and localized flood risk, particularly if rapid warm spells follow.
From a forecasting and climate perspective, a single event cannot be used alone to infer long-term trends. That said, atmospheric patterns that deliver powerful coastal storms to the Northeast—active storm tracks and strong temperature gradients—are consistent with variability seen in recent winters. Scientists caution that links to climate change require careful attribution studies, but municipalities are increasingly factoring higher-impact scenarios into resilience planning.
| Location | Reported Snowfall (inches) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | 32.8 | New city single-storm record (previous 28.6 in, Blizzard of ’78) |
| Boston metro (general) | 16–24 | Higher amounts along Boston–Providence corridor; local variability |
| Inside Route 495 (eastward) | 12–18 | Includes McGrath Highway area, Somerville |
| Logan Airport (BOS) | 14.4 | Measurement as of 1 p.m.; wind gusts also noted |
The table summarizes official and field-reported totals collected during the storm. Local measurement points can differ by several inches over short distances during intense, convective snow bands. Municipal totals are updated as crews access measurement sites and automated stations are checked.
Reactions & Quotes
“This storm produced historic snowfall in parts of southern New England; our crews are prioritizing emergency routes and vulnerable populations.”
City emergency management office (municipal statement)
Officials emphasized that clearing priorities focus first on hospitals, public safety corridors and transit hubs. Local managers asked residents to stay off roads where possible to speed plowing operations and reduce emergency response times.
“We witnessed intense snowfall rates and very strong coastal gusts—conditions that can quickly overwhelm local infrastructure.”
Regional National Weather Service office (forecast summary)
Meteorologists highlighted that the combination of heavy snow rates and high winds led to rapid drifts and reduced visibility, complicating both road travel and airport operations during the peak hours.
“If you still have power, the worst of the wind is now offshore, but isolated outages will take time to repair, especially on the Cape and Islands.”
Utility company spokesperson (operational update)
Utility officials noted prioritized restoration to critical customers and warned island communities that service restoration may be delayed by access and safety constraints.
Unconfirmed
- Reports of a small number of towns exceeding 30 inches outside of documented Providence measurements remain under verification and await official municipal or NWS confirmation.
- Claims about the storm’s national ranking for 2026 single-storm totals are preliminary and require a formal comparison of verified observing sites.
Bottom Line
The Feb. 23, 2026 system was a high-impact coastal winter storm for southern New England. Providence set a notable new city record at 32.8 inches, and the Boston region saw widespread 12–24 inch totals with powerful coastal gusts that raised the risk of outages and infrastructure damage. Municipal services face several days of elevated workload to clear streets, restore full transit operations and address utility repairs.
Short-term follow-up risks include slow snowmelt, disruption to transportation and staggered utility restoration—especially on islands and exposed coastal communities. Residents should expect remaining travel impacts into the next day, monitor municipal and utility updates, and plan for gradual recovery through early March as temperatures moderate and crews complete clearance work.
Sources
- WGBH News (local public media report)
- National Weather Service Boston (NWS Box) (official forecast and observations)
- Massport — Logan Airport (BOS) (airport operations updates)
- Massachusetts Department of Transportation (state travel advisories and road conditions)