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Heavy Snow Hits Northeast, Cities Push Residents to Clear Paths
Northeast United States, USATuesday, February 24, 2026
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A massive snowstorm has dumped more than three feet of ice‑packed flakes across the Northeast, breaking old snowfall records and forcing towns to mobilize.
Record‑Breaking Totals
- Rhode Island
- T. F. Green Airport: 32.8 inches
- Warwick: 36.2 inches
- The storm surpassed the 1978 blizzard that claimed 100 lives.
Government Response
| City/State | Action |
|---|---|
| New York City | Declared the storm over at 4:30 p.m.; sidewalks cleared by 8:30 p.m.; lifted travel ban but urged caution. |
| Rhode Island | Maintained state emergency and travel ban to allow overnight plowing. |
| Massachusetts | Issued a nonessential travel ban for southeastern counties; cut Turnpike speed limits to 40 mph. |
Transportation Disruptions
- Public Transit
- Amtrak & New Jersey Transit: all services suspended.
- MBTA: reduced routes.
- NYC Subway: line suspensions and rerouting.
- Air Travel
- Over 6,000 flights canceled nationwide.
- NYC airports: ~90 % departures grounded.
- Boston Logan: 92 % canceled.
- T. F. Green Airport: 87 % canceled.
- Schools
- Boston schools closed through Tuesday due to the snow emergency.
Safety Tips
- Stay home whenever possible.
- If traveling:
- Check road reports.
- Inform someone of your route.
- Keep fuel/battery full.
- Pack an emergency kit.
Storm Characteristics
- Winds up to 75 mph.
- Visibility below a quarter mile for hours.
- Classified by the National Weather Service as a blizzard.
- Meteorologists note it stems from rapidly deepening low‑pressure systems (“bomb cyclones”) and can evolve into nor’easters threatening coastal flooding.
The Northeast is grappling with a historic blizzard that has shattered snowfall records, disrupted travel and public services, and required residents to take active steps for safety and mobility.
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