Northeast Hammered by Powerful Winter Storm

Blizzard conditions disrupt flights, cancel schools across the region

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A powerful winter storm dubbed a 'bomb cyclone' by meteorologists dumped over 2 feet of snow in parts of the Northeast on Monday, leading to thousands of flight cancellations, school closures, and widespread power outages. While cleanup efforts were underway on Tuesday, forecasters warned that another storm could be on the way, potentially bringing more snow to the already hard-hit region.

Why it matters

The severe winter storm has caused significant disruptions across the Northeast, impacting transportation, education, and power grids. The region's ability to recover and prepare for potential future storms highlights the challenges communities face in dealing with extreme weather events driven by climate change.

The details

The storm, which meteorologists are calling the strongest in a decade, brought blizzard conditions to the Northeast, with over 2 feet of snow recorded in some areas. Thousands of flights were canceled, schools were closed, and hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses lost power, particularly in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, and Rhode Island. While cleanup efforts were underway on Tuesday, with roads reopening and mass transit resuming in some cities, the National Weather Service warned that another storm could be on the way later this week, potentially bringing more snow to the region.

  • The storm hit the Northeast on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • By Tuesday, February 25, 2026, roads were beginning to reopen and power was returning for some affected areas.
  • The National Weather Service is tracking another potential storm that could bring more snow to the region later this week.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, who announced that schools would reopen for in-person learning on Tuesday, despite concerns from some officials about the feasibility of this decision.

Vito Fossella

The Staten Island Borough President, who said that schools should remain closed due to the ongoing snow cleanup.

Michael Mulgrew

The president of the United Federation of Teachers, who described the situation as 'a big mess' and predicted low attendance of both students and staff.

Kamar Samuels

The New York City schools chancellor, who said the district was 'confident in our decision to reopen' schools on Tuesday.

Frank Pereira

A meteorologist for the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, who warned that even a few extra inches of snow on top of the current conditions could make cleanup more difficult.

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What they’re saying

“There's going to be low attendance of students. You're going to have low attendance of staff because people don't know if they can travel, if they can get to schools.”

— Michael Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers (nbcnews.com)

“Any additional snow at this point is probably not going to be welcome.”

— Frank Pereira, Meteorologist, National Weather Service (nbcnews.com)

What’s next

The National Weather Service is tracking another potential storm that could bring more snow to the already hard-hit Northeast region later this week.

The takeaway

The powerful winter storm that hit the Northeast highlights the growing challenges communities face in dealing with extreme weather events driven by climate change. The region's ability to recover and prepare for future storms will be crucial in mitigating the impacts of these disruptive weather patterns.