A massive winter storm brought epic snowfall to the Northeast United States on Monday, dumping over 40 million people under a blanket of snow. The blizzard dumped at least 2 feet of snow in parts of New York and Connecticut, with some areas receiving up to 3 feet. Lightning struck One World Trade Center, and many schools were closed.
The city’s formal travel ban was lifted by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, but he urged residents to stay indoors for the remainder. Travel bans also applied in New Jersey and Connecticut, with limited bus and subway services available. The storm paralyzed public transit and brought normal life to a grinding halt in the region.
More than 650,000 customers were left without power across the US, including nearly half a million in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Delaware. Power outages continued to increase as heavy snow weighed down trees and power lines, with gusts reaching up to 98 mph in Wellfleet, Massachusetts.
The storm lashed Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island with heavy, wet snow and high winds. Major bridges were closed, airports shut down, and truck traffic was restricted on interstate highways. The nation’s highest snow total was reported in Warwick, Rhode Island, at 36.2 inches.
Residents should expect several days without power as the storm continues to affect the region. New England has already experienced one of the coldest and snowiest winters in recent memory, with this storm being a “classic New England nor’easter” that could bring hurricane-like impacts.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/02/23/blizzard-northeast-new-york-massachusetts-impacts-snowfall