Northeast Digs Out After Powerful Snowstorm

Flights canceled, schools closed as region battles record snowfall

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A powerful winter storm blanketed the Northeast with over 2 feet of snow, causing widespread disruptions including thousands of flight cancellations and school closures. Neighbors, government workers, and a railroad snow-clearing machine nicknamed 'Darth Vader' scrambled to dig out the region, but forecasters warn another storm could be on the way.

Why it matters

The storm was one of the strongest to hit the Northeast in a decade, underscoring the region's vulnerability to extreme winter weather events that are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. The disruptions to transportation, power, and daily life highlight the need for improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness to mitigate the impacts of such storms.

The details

The storm dumped over 2 feet of snow in parts of the Northeast, with the highest total of over 3 feet recorded in Warwick, Rhode Island. Thousands of flights were canceled, schools were closed, and hundreds of thousands lost power across multiple states. Crews worked to clear roads and restore power, but the National Weather Service warned that another storm could bring more snow later this week, complicating cleanup efforts.

  • The storm hit the region on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • By Tuesday, February 25, 2026, roads were beginning to reopen and mass transportation was coming back online in some cities.
  • 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 about the feasibility of that decision.

Vito Fossella

The Staten Island Borough President who said schools should remain closed due to the storm.

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 they were '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 could make cleanup more difficult.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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, United Federation of Teachers (Associated Press)

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

— Frank Pereira, Meteorologist, National Weather Service (Associated Press)

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 need for improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness in the Northeast to mitigate the growing impacts of extreme winter weather events driven by climate change. Policymakers and communities must work together to ensure residents can safely weather these increasingly frequent and severe storms.