Blizzard Warning Puts New York City and Coast on Alert

A blizzard warning is in effect for much of the coastal Northeast as a late-winter storm threatens heavy snow, strong winds and coastal flooding starting Sunday, and New York City is facing its first blizzard warning since 2017. Forecasters warn the heaviest snow and most dangerous travel are likely from Sunday night into Monday.

Blizzard Warning covers millions from Delaware to southern Connecticut

Officials placed blizzard warnings for a broad swath of the coast, reaching from Delaware to southern Connecticut, with the advisories in place from Sunday morning until Monday afternoon and covering nearly 20 million people. Forecasters expect snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour by Sunday night in the heaviest bands, and some locations could receive 1 to 2 feet of snow overall in many areas.

Heavy, wet snow and 25–35 mph winds threaten flooding and outages

Sustained winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour are expected to combine with heavy, wet snow and create blizzard conditions, raising the risk of moderate to major coastal flooding and high surf at the shore. A flood watch begins Sunday evening for parts of coastal New Jersey and New York, and officials warned that the wind and snow load could down tree limbs and cause power outages; travel may become dangerous, if not impossible, on roads across the region.

When will the snow hit?

On Feb. 21, 2026, forecasters said the storm could arrive quietly on Sunday with rain in some places before changing to heavy snow, with the heaviest snowfall expected Sunday night. New York City, Long Island and coastal Connecticut could see 13 to 18 inches or more of accumulated snow, while a broader swath of the Northeast could see totals in the 6-to-18-inch range and pockets of 1 to 2 feet in the most intense bands. The city has not had a blizzard warning since 2017; by contrast, a record 27. 5 inches fell in Central Park during a 2016 storm.

Officials warned that Monday's morning and evening commutes in major cities from Washington, D. C., to Philadelphia to New York City to Boston are likely to be messy, as sustained heavy snowfall and strong winds make road travel hazardous. The blizzard warning runs from Sunday morning until Monday afternoon, with the heaviest snow expected Sunday night and travel expected to remain difficult into Monday's commutes.