US Weather Alert: A major snowstorm is approaching New York City and much of the Northeast until February 22, 2026. It’s a powerful nor’easter (some reports describe it as a bomb cyclone) bringing heavy snow, strong winds, whiteout conditions, and blizzard warnings—the first for NYC since 2017.
According to a Bloomberg report, a blizzard warning is in effect for approximately 30 million people in New York City and throughout the Northeast.
According to multiple reports, over 3,000 flights have been canceled at major New York City airports, and dangerous conditions are expected in the Northeast on Sunday.
Meanwhile, major airlines on Saturday issued a notice to cancel flights at John F. Flights have been halted at key hubs, including Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, as well as airports in Philadelphia and Boston. FOX Weather reports that the number of cancellations is expected to increase as the snow begins to fall.
Bloomberg reports that widespread power outages are also possible.
National Weather Service Forecast
The National Weather Service has increased its forecast for the severity of the storm, compared to earlier forecasts that predicted it would be much less severe, as reported by the Associated Press.
The Weather Service said that many areas could receive 1 to 2 feet (about 30 to 61 centimeters) of snow, and issued a blizzard warning for New York City and Long Island, Boston, and coastal areas of New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
According to the AP report, it also said that flooding is also possible in parts of New York and New Jersey.
“Although we get a lot of northeasters that bring heavy snow and strong winds, it’s been many years since we’ve seen such a significant amount of snow over such a large area in this highly populated part of the country,” said Cody Snell, a meteorologist at the service’s Weather Prediction Center, according to the AP report.
Snell said the storm would hit areas around Washington on Sunday morning, then move toward Philadelphia and New York City, and reach Boston in the evening, the report said.
The weather service said the storm could start as rain in some places, then worsen, with the heaviest snowfall expected overnight, and in some areas, up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) per hour at times, before tapering off by Monday afternoon.
The weather service warned that the storm, with sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph (40 to 56 kph), “will make travel dangerous, if not impossible. The weight of the snow and strong winds could bring down tree branches and cause power outages.”
Mamdani’s Reaction
Officials began preparing for the storm, which meteorologists had expected just days ago to cause little damage.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city would increase its efforts to deal with the heavy snowfall a few weeks ago. But officials have not yet decided whether to reopen schools on Monday. “I am asking all New Yorkers to stay inside and stay off the roads for their own safety,” Mamdani said at a news conference on Saturday.
According to the Associated Press, Mamdani said, “We saw on Friday that we were expecting maybe 3 to 4 inches of snow. Then it quickly changed,” he added, “so we want to make sure we make decisions based on up-to-date and accurate information.”
NYC Infrastructure
According to a Bloomberg report, Mamdani said that New York City officials will deploy 2,600 sanitation workers in 12-hour shifts when the snow begins Sunday morning, although “there will be no cleanup during this storm.”
He said, “Our focus during this storm will not be on physical infrastructure.” “It will be on bringing homeless New Yorkers inside.”
With temperatures hovering near freezing, the snowfall is expected to be intense and heavy. With wind gusts up to 55 mph, this could bring down trees and power lines, causing power outages.
Road conditions will be dangerous, and the National Weather Service has advised anyone traveling to carry a survival kit.
Amtrak said Saturday that it will alter service on some routes along the Northeast Corridor on Sunday and Monday.
Winter Storm
The storm is expected to begin with rain in Washington on Sunday morning, followed by snow in the area, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Washington could receive about 3 inches of snow. In New York, snow is expected to begin late Sunday morning and intensify, with the heaviest snowfall expected overnight or on Monday.
(With inputs from agencies)