Northeast Digs Out After Massive Snowstorm

Light snow moves through region as cities struggle to clear piles from previous storm

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A massive snowstorm that dumped over 3 feet of snow in parts of the Northeast has left cities scrambling to clear towering snow piles. Light snow is moving through the region on Wednesday, with 1-3 inches expected, but any melted snow is likely to refreeze into dangerous black ice. Cities like New York and Providence are working to clear sidewalks and streets, but many areas remain impassable, especially for people with disabilities. The storm has also caused power outages and flight cancellations across the region.

Why it matters

The back-to-back winter storms have created significant challenges for Northeast communities, disrupting transportation, straining municipal resources, and posing safety risks, especially for vulnerable populations. The region's ability to effectively respond and recover from these extreme weather events has broader implications for infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and the impact of climate change.

The details

The latest storm dropped 1-3 inches of snow across the Northeast on Wednesday, on top of the over 3 feet that fell earlier this week. Cities have been working around the clock to clear snow, with New York City spreading 143 million pounds of salt and hiring 3,500 emergency shovelers. However, many sidewalks remain impassable, creating difficulties for people with disabilities. In Rhode Island, a 21-year-old college student died from carbon monoxide poisoning after being found unconscious in a snow-covered vehicle. Municipalities are using innovative methods like warm water basins to help melt massive snow piles, but the scale of the challenge is immense.

  • The latest storm dropped 1-3 inches of snow on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • The previous storm dumped over 3 feet of snow across the region earlier this week.

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 died from carbon monoxide poisoning after being found unconscious in a snow-covered vehicle.

Javier Lojan

The acting Sanitation Commissioner for New York City.

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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-centimeter) 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 (kob.com)

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

— Tina Guenette (kob.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case of Joseph Boutros' death will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the release of the driver on bail.

The takeaway

The back-to-back winter storms have exposed the vulnerabilities of Northeast communities when it comes to infrastructure, emergency response, and supporting vulnerable populations during extreme weather events. As the impacts of climate change continue to intensify, these challenges will only become more pressing, requiring innovative solutions and greater investment in resilience.