A Blizzard With Record Snowfall for Parts of the Northeast

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by Andy Newman and Jacey Fortin

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A historic blizzard brought record snowfall and widespread disruption to the Northeast and New England regions in early February 2026. The storm left over half a million homes and businesses without power at its peak, causing significant challenges for residents and emergency responders. Areas like Rhode Island and Massachusetts were particularly hard-hit, with Providence experiencing an unofficial snowfall record of 37.9 inches by late Monday afternoon. In Cape Cod, more than 85% of customers remained without electricity, prompting Governor Maura Healey to restrict travel and urge residents to stay home to allow plows and utility crews to clear roads and restore power. The blizzard’s impact extended across multiple states, with snowfall totals exceeding three feet in parts of Rhode Island and nearly 31 inches in areas like Islip, New York, and Stonington, Connecticut. In Massachusetts, the weight of wet, heavy snow combined with strong winds caused tree limbs to snap and exacerbated power outages, affecting nearly 300,000 customers. Similarly, New Jersey saw over 100,000 outages as the storm’s aftermath unfolded. The storm also disrupted travel across the region, with thousands of flights canceled at major airports like Boston and New York City. NJ Transit halted all train, bus, and light rail services indefinitely, adding to the chaos for commuters. Meanwhile, city officials in New York announced a pay increase for emergency shovelers to clear streets, reflecting the urgent need for additional resources to manage the snowfall. This blizzard highlights the challenges posed by extreme weather events, not only to infrastructure but also to daily life and economic activity. The widespread power outages and travel disruptions underscored the importance of preparedness and coordination among local governments, utility companies, and residents during such crises. As the region continues to recover,

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/24/2026