Northeast Blizzard

Overview

A historic bomb cyclone, unofficially named Winter Storm Hernando, struck the Northeast United States on February 22–24, 2026. The storm brought 2–3 feet of snow across the Northeast megalopolis, with hurricane-force wind gusts nearly reaching 100 mph in coastal New England. Over 600,000 people lost power at the height of the blizzard, with more than 190,000 customers in Massachusetts alone still without power days later. States of emergency were declared in seven states, and President Trump approved 12 emergency declarations. Airlines canceled thousands of flights at major airports in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Boston. Travel bans were enacted across New York City and New Jersey. AccuWeather estimated total damage and economic losses between $105–$115 billion. The Red Cross opened or supported over 150 shelters, providing more than 14,400 overnight stays and serving over 187,000 meals.