Atlantic City Area Hit by Historic Winter Storm

Winter Storm Hernando joins the ranks of the region's biggest blizzards over the past 80 years.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Atlantic City, New Jersey area is being hit by a major winter storm, Winter Storm Hernando, which is being compared to some of the region's most historic blizzards dating back to the 1940s. Locals have shared photos of the heavy snowfall, with accumulations expected to rival past storms like the Blizzard of 1996, Blizzard 'Jonas' in 2016, and the Christmas Blizzard of 2010.

Why it matters

Atlantic City and the surrounding region are no strangers to major winter storms, but the severity of Winter Storm Hernando is noteworthy as it joins the ranks of the area's most impactful blizzards over the past 80 years. These types of historic storms can cause widespread power outages, transportation disruptions, and significant property damage, underscoring the importance of preparedness for local residents and businesses.

The details

Winter Storm Hernando is expected to dump around 30 inches of snow on the Atlantic City area, putting it on par with other epic blizzards like the Blizzard of 1996 (32 inches), Blizzard 'Jonas' in 2016 (about 30 inches), the Great Blizzard of 1947 (nearly 30 inches), and the Christmas Blizzard of 2010 (36 inches). The Blizzard of 1978 also brought 20 to 26 inches of snow to the region.

  • Winter Storm Hernando is currently impacting the Atlantic City area.
  • The Blizzard of 1996 occurred on January 6-8, 1996.
  • Blizzard 'Jonas' hit the region on January 22-24, 2016.
  • The Great Blizzard of 1947 struck on December 26-27, 1947.
  • The Christmas Blizzard of 2010 happened on December 26-27, 2010.
  • The Blizzard of 1978 occurred on February 5-7, 1978.

The players

Winter Storm Hernando

The current major winter storm impacting the Atlantic City, New Jersey area.

Blizzard of 1996

A historic blizzard that brought 32 inches of snow to the Atlantic City region in January 1996.

Blizzard 'Jonas'

A major blizzard that hit the Atlantic City area in January 2016, dumping about 30 inches of snow.

Great Blizzard of 1947

A historic blizzard that struck the Atlantic City region in December 1947, bringing nearly 30 inches of snow.

Christmas Blizzard of 2010

A major blizzard that impacted the Atlantic City area in December 2010, with 36 inches of snow.

Blizzard of 1978

A winter storm that brought 20 to 26 inches of snow to the Atlantic City region in February 1978.

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What they’re saying

“It's always tough to compare one Atlantic City, New Jersey area winter storm vs. others over the many years. However, there is no doubt that the current Winter Storm Hernando will go down as a big one.”

— Harry Hurley (973espn.com)

The takeaway

The severity of Winter Storm Hernando underscores the Atlantic City region's vulnerability to historic winter storms, which can cause widespread disruption and damage. Residents and businesses must remain vigilant and prepared for the impacts of these types of powerful blizzards, which appear to be occurring with increasing frequency in the area.