Snow Storm Weather Forecast New York: 'Near impossible' travel as Blizzard of 2026 batters the Northeast
Snow Storm Weather Forecast New York is dominated by a historic bomb-style blizzard that has left parts of the Northeast digging out, with record snowfall totals, widespread flight cancellations, mass power outages and dangerous conditions across cities and suburbs.
Snow Storm Weather Forecast New York: what fell and where
Parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts recorded as much as 33 inches (83cm) of snowfall, while one update lists 37. 9 inches in Rhode Island as records tumbled. New York's Central Park recorded over 19 inches and was also described as almost 20 inches (51cm) in another count. Providence, Rhode Island, received 33 inches (83cm), breaking a previous single-storm record of 28. 6 inches (72. 6cm) set in February 1978. The storm produced hurricane-force wind gusts and heavy thundersnow in the Northeast, and a striking satellite image captured the storm's comma shape and a defined swirling eye as the system intensified into what has been described as a bomb cyclone.
Travel and flight disruptions
Travel has been described as 'near impossible' in New York, with winter storm warnings stretching from North Carolina to northern Maine and warnings also in place in parts of eastern Canada. More than 5, 600 flights into and out of the US have been cancelled, and earlier live coverage noted more than 5, 000 cancellations as regions began digging out. At John F. Kennedy Airport, a Ground Stop is in effect while crews work to clear significant accumulations; approximately 40% of scheduled flights at that airport have been disrupted, with at least 426 cancellations and 63 significant delays recorded this morning. An official aviation advisory suggests operational constraints could continue through most of today as subfreezing temperatures make it difficult to keep primary surfaces clear. Travelers are urged to check flight status before traveling to terminals.
Power outages, fatalities and emergency declarations
The storm has left large parts of the region without power. One count lists more than 600, 000 homes and businesses without power, with New Jersey and Massachusetts among the worst hit; another update cites 375, 000 without power and notes two fatalities as recovery begins. Millions across the US northeast remain under a state of emergency after the severe winter storm brought nearly two feet of snow in some places, accompanied by high winds and cold temperatures. Parts of Canada's Atlantic Coast have also been affected, and winter storm warnings continue along a broad swath of the coast.
Scenes on the ground: New York City and beyond
In New York City the snow has been described as shin-deep and trees have fallen across streets, with reporter Brandon Livesay filing images of obstructed roadways. Time-lapse footage showed the Empire State Building engulfed by snow overnight. Berliner Peggy Ferber woke early to visit Times Square in the snow, and resident Mickey Blank said the situation "doesn't happen too often in the city that the road is covered and you have to go through mountains of snow, " calling it a very unique experience. In Montauk, New York, a tree bowed under the weight of heavy, wet snow following the Blizzard of 2026.
Storm science and related events
The system displayed classic rapid intensification into a powerful bomb cyclone off the East Coast, producing the comma-shaped circulation and intense winds noted by forecasters and visible in satellite imagery. The storm brought heavy thundersnow to the region. Separately, a magnitude 3. 0 earthquake shook the area just southeast of Cathcart, Washington around 5: 40 a. m. local time; light shaking was felt in the nearby Seattle metro area and there has been no word on the extent of any damage.
What comes next: clipper threat and short-term forecast
While the main blizzard has started to taper off, accumulated snow and conditions mean it could take several days for life to return to normal on the East Coast. Recovery is underway even as a new Alberta Clipper system dives out of the Great Lakes and threatens more snow this week. Snow showers are expected to spread across Upstate New York and Pennsylvania later today, pushing eastward so that by Wednesday morning light to moderate snow could impact the commute in hubs including Syracuse, Boston and Portland. This clipper is significantly less powerful than the recent bomb cyclone but is forecast to bring a fresh 1 to 3 inches of accumulation from Central Pennsylvania through New England, including Boston, with higher totals of 5 to 8 inches possible in the interior Northeast and downwind of the Great Lakes where lake-enhanced bands may form.
Live coverage has ended for today. Coverage credits include Mike Rawlins and Julian Atienza. Details and conditions remain fluid and recovery efforts will continue while transportation and utility crews work through extensive impacts.
