Northeast Digs Out After Major Snowstorm

New storm expected to bring more snow and ice to the region

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Snowplows and emergency crews in the Northeast US are working around the clock to clear massive piles of snow left behind by a powerful winter storm that hit the region earlier this week. The storm dropped over 3 feet of snow in some areas, causing widespread power outages and disrupting transportation. With another storm expected to hit the region on Wednesday, cities are scrambling to make roads and sidewalks passable, especially for those with disabilities.

Why it matters

The back-to-back winter storms have created dangerous conditions across the Northeast, with impassable sidewalks, downed power lines, and disrupted transportation. This poses significant challenges for residents, especially the elderly and those with mobility issues. The storms have also strained municipal resources as crews work overtime to clear snow and ice.

The details

In Rhode Island, snowplows cleared the way for emergency vehicles, while in New York City, workers prepared to melt massive piles of snow and ice. In Boston, officials worked to clear sidewalks that were coated in packed snow, cutting off access for people using wheelchairs. The storm dropped over 33 inches of snow in some areas, surpassing totals from the historic Blizzard of 1978.

  • On Monday, a powerful winter storm blanketed the Northeast with snow, canceling flights, disrupting transit, and downing power lines.
  • On Tuesday evening, New York City had spread 143 million pounds of salt and signed up at least 3,500 people as emergency shovelers.
  • On Wednesday, the National Weather Service warned that another storm originating in the Great Lakes could push into the Northeast, bringing a combination of rain and snow.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City.

Jeff Peters

A spokesperson for the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York.

Tina Guenette

A resident of Harrisville, Rhode Island who uses a motorized wheelchair.

Joseph Boutros

A 21-year-old Salve Regina University student who was found unconscious in a snow-covered vehicle and pronounced dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Ryan Maue

A former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and meteorologist.

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What they’re saying

“You'll find a portion of a sidewalk that is clear, and then there's maybe a 6-inch (15-cm) pathway that can only be walked with one foot in front of the other and no room for a stroller, rollator, walker or crutches. Then you get to the corner and not only is it unshoveled, but you have basically a glacier at the end of it.”

— Jeff Peters, Spokesperson, Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York

“I really have no choice if my service dog wants to go outside.”

— Tina Guenette

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 ongoing challenges the Northeast faces in dealing with severe winter weather, particularly for those with mobility issues. Clearing snow and ice from sidewalks and roads is crucial to ensuring accessibility and public safety, but it requires significant municipal resources and coordination.