Northeast Blizzard Paralyzes Region, Forcing Millions to Stay Home

New York City remains under state of emergency as heavy snow and strong winds create dangerous travel conditions

Feb. 23, 2026 at 9:51pm

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A massive snowstorm pummeled the northeast United States from Maryland to Maine on Monday, forcing millions of people to stay home amid strong winds and blizzard warnings, transportation shutdowns, and school and business closures. New York City remains under a state of emergency, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani urging residents to avoid non-essential travel.

Why it matters

The nor'easter quickly intensified into a 'bomb cyclone', bringing heavy snowfall, strong winds, and whiteout conditions that have paralyzed the region. This storm is being described as the strongest in a decade, highlighting the growing intensity of extreme winter weather events that can significantly disrupt daily life and pose risks to public safety.

The details

The storm brought snowfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour, with some areas receiving over a foot of snow. Over 5,000 flights were canceled, and public transit was suspended in many areas. Travel bans and states of emergency were declared in several states, including New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles and snow removal. Power outages affected tens of thousands of homes, and crews worked to restore electricity.

  • The storm began on Sunday and intensified throughout Monday, with the worst conditions occurring during the day.
  • The travel bans and states of emergency were implemented on Sunday evening and remained in effect through at least Monday afternoon.
  • The storm is expected to continue impacting the region through Tuesday, with lingering snow and strong winds.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, who declared a state of emergency and urged residents to avoid non-essential travel due to the dangerous conditions.

Ned Lamont

The governor of Connecticut, who warned that more power outages were likely as the snow freezes and pulls tree branches onto power lines.

Mikie Sherrill

The governor of New Jersey, who lifted a statewide travel ban but still urged residents to stay off the roads due to the ongoing snowfall and hazardous conditions.

Owen Shieh

A warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center, who described the storm as hitting the 'Goldilocks situation' of just the right temperature for wet, heavy snow.

Jeff Masters

A meteorologist at Yale Climate Connections and co-founder of Weather Underground, who said the storm followed the ideal track for maximum snowfall.

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What they’re saying

“These are dangerous conditions. Not only is snow continuing to fall, accumulated snowfall and refreezing have made it hazardous to travel. If you can, remain indoors. If you must leave your home, please rely on public transit.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (myfox8.com)

“We're not out of the woods yet. This storm's got at least a few more hours to go.”

— Ned Lamont, Governor of Connecticut (WFSB-TV)

“Though it is a blizzard, one of the few pieces of good news is that we will see 40-degree (4.4 degree Celsius) weather sometime in this week.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (myfox8.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This storm highlights the growing intensity of extreme winter weather events that can significantly disrupt daily life and pose risks to public safety. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, communities will need to be prepared to respond to these types of powerful storms and their aftermath.