New York City Paralyzed by Snowstorm: Thousands of Flights Grounded
A powerful winter storm has enveloped New York City, grounding thousands of flights and straining transport networks. As 41 million people along the US East Coast brace for blizzard conditions, this storm could become one of the city’s worst on record.
The storm, named Hernando, is described as “potentially crippling” for many areas across the Northeast, according to Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center. New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, most of Rhode Island, and eastern Massachusetts are expected to experience extreme impacts, potentially exceeding the five-step scale used by the agency to predict winter systems.
Flight cancellations have surged, with over 10,000 flights into and around the US canceled through Tuesday—most of which were either departing from or arriving at New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, as reported by FlightAware. Delta Air Lines Inc. announced plans to suspend operations at New York’s LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports, as well as Boston Logan International Airport, into Tuesday.
Heavy snowfall coupled with high winds is likely to cause cascading travel delays on the ground and lead to widespread power outages across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. US natural gas futures have surged by as much as 6.8%, driven by increased demand for heating due to the colder weather.
“Blizzard conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening,” warned the New York branch of the US National Weather Service in a notice late Sunday.
Intense bands of snow, with rates peaking at 2 to 3 inches per hour, fell in the city early Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service. While snowfall is expected to slow, blizzard conditions are predicted to persist through daybreak.
Any accumulation exceeding 14.8 inches in 24 hours would rank among the top ten storms for the city. The record for the most snowfall in a single day stands at 27.3 inches, set on January 23, 2016.
“These are blizzard conditions,” stated Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday, noting that some areas may receive as much as 28 inches of snow. “New York City has not faced a storm of this scale in the last decade. We have activated additional high-water rescue teams should flooding become dire.”
As of 9 p.m. on Sunday, Mamdani announced the closure of highways, bridges, and streets into New York, with schools remaining shut on Monday. Train and bus services have also been disrupted due to the forecast of more than 18 to 20 inches of snow from Philadelphia to Maine.
“No one is going into or out of New York City,” emphasized Frank Pereira, a senior branch forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center. “New Jersey, Long Island, New York City, and southern New England will bear the brunt of the heaviest snowfall.”
Forecasters have also warned that snow could accumulate rapidly in some areas, with visibility reduced by winds gusting up to nearly 50 miles per hour in New York City and 70 mph along the coast. Philadelphia is expected to receive 16 inches of snow, while Boston may see as much as 20 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Washington, D.C. is forecasted to get around 3 inches.
The weather is anticipated to “rapidly deteriorate” as snowfall intensifies, leading to whiteout conditions, the agency’s New York branch said.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority subway system is currently operating with local service, while Metro-North Railroad is running on a weekend schedule. However, service on the Long Island Rail Road has been suspended.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and parts of the Hudson Valley. New Jersey has also declared an emergency, while Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has banned commercial vehicle travel starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Hochul cautioned New Yorkers about the potential for widespread power outages. In preparation, approximately 6,000 utility workers have been positioned to respond and restore service as quickly as possible.
“It is just too dangerous for them to go up a pole and risk their own lives to get the power on,” she stated during a news conference. “So please be patient if you lose power.”
The governor expanded the state of emergency to 22 counties, up from 17. Over 100 National Guard members have been deployed, and more than 2,000 plows are ready to clear and treat roadways.
As of 4:45 a.m. local time on Monday, more than 225,000 customers in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia were without power, according to PowerOutage.com.
In Boston, all public schools will be closed on Monday, along with City Hall and other municipal buildings, including branches of the Boston Public Library.
Kevin Heald, owner of Malt & Mold, a wine, beer, and cheese bar in Gramercy Park, plans to stay open late, believing that people will seek refuge as the snow falls. Conversely, Oscar Sanabria, who runs PetStar, a dog grooming and daycare business in the same neighborhood, decided to close on Monday due to anticipated difficulties for his staff in getting to work.
The extensive snowfall across the Northeast and the ice on the Great Lakes may keep the region locked into a stormy winter pattern for weeks to come, according to Rob Carolan, owner of Hometown Forecast Services.
“I think it is going to take until April for us to break out of this pattern,” Carolan remarked.
Top Photo: Pedestrians on the Brooklyn Bridge during a winter storm in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Sunday, February 22, 2026. New York City has been isolated by a powerful winter storm that threatens to be among its worst on record, while across the region, 41 million people are facing blizzard conditions that have already crippled air and ground transportation. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
A powerful winter storm has enveloped New York City, grounding thousands of flights and straining transport networks. As 41 million people along the US East Coast brace for blizzard conditions, this storm could become one of the city’s worst on record.
The storm, named Hernando, is described as “potentially crippling” for many areas across the Northeast, according to Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center. New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, most of Rhode Island, and eastern Massachusetts are expected to experience extreme impacts, potentially exceeding the five-step scale used by the agency to predict winter systems.
Flight cancellations have surged, with over 10,000 flights into and around the US canceled through Tuesday—most of which were either departing from or arriving at New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, as reported by FlightAware. Delta Air Lines Inc. announced plans to suspend operations at New York’s LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports, as well as Boston Logan International Airport, into Tuesday.
Heavy snowfall coupled with high winds is likely to cause cascading travel delays on the ground and lead to widespread power outages across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. US natural gas futures have surged by as much as 6.8%, driven by increased demand for heating due to the colder weather.
“Blizzard conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening,” warned the New York branch of the US National Weather Service in a notice late Sunday.
Intense bands of snow, with rates peaking at 2 to 3 inches per hour, fell in the city early Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service. While snowfall is expected to slow, blizzard conditions are predicted to persist through daybreak.
Any accumulation exceeding 14.8 inches in 24 hours would rank among the top ten storms for the city. The record for the most snowfall in a single day stands at 27.3 inches, set on January 23, 2016.
“These are blizzard conditions,” stated Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sunday, noting that some areas may receive as much as 28 inches of snow. “New York City has not faced a storm of this scale in the last decade. We have activated additional high-water rescue teams should flooding become dire.”
As of 9 p.m. on Sunday, Mamdani announced the closure of highways, bridges, and streets into New York, with schools remaining shut on Monday. Train and bus services have also been disrupted due to the forecast of more than 18 to 20 inches of snow from Philadelphia to Maine.
“No one is going into or out of New York City,” emphasized Frank Pereira, a senior branch forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center. “New Jersey, Long Island, New York City, and southern New England will bear the brunt of the heaviest snowfall.”
Forecasters have also warned that snow could accumulate rapidly in some areas, with visibility reduced by winds gusting up to nearly 50 miles per hour in New York City and 70 mph along the coast. Philadelphia is expected to receive 16 inches of snow, while Boston may see as much as 20 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Washington, D.C. is forecasted to get around 3 inches.
The weather is anticipated to “rapidly deteriorate” as snowfall intensifies, leading to whiteout conditions, the agency’s New York branch said.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority subway system is currently operating with local service, while Metro-North Railroad is running on a weekend schedule. However, service on the Long Island Rail Road has been suspended.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and parts of the Hudson Valley. New Jersey has also declared an emergency, while Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has banned commercial vehicle travel starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Hochul cautioned New Yorkers about the potential for widespread power outages. In preparation, approximately 6,000 utility workers have been positioned to respond and restore service as quickly as possible.
“It is just too dangerous for them to go up a pole and risk their own lives to get the power on,” she stated during a news conference. “So please be patient if you lose power.”
The governor expanded the state of emergency to 22 counties, up from 17. Over 100 National Guard members have been deployed, and more than 2,000 plows are ready to clear and treat roadways.
As of 4:45 a.m. local time on Monday, more than 225,000 customers in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia were without power, according to PowerOutage.com.
In Boston, all public schools will be closed on Monday, along with City Hall and other municipal buildings, including branches of the Boston Public Library.
Kevin Heald, owner of Malt & Mold, a wine, beer, and cheese bar in Gramercy Park, plans to stay open late, believing that people will seek refuge as the snow falls. Conversely, Oscar Sanabria, who runs PetStar, a dog grooming and daycare business in the same neighborhood, decided to close on Monday due to anticipated difficulties for his staff in getting to work.
The extensive snowfall across the Northeast and the ice on the Great Lakes may keep the region locked into a stormy winter pattern for weeks to come, according to Rob Carolan, owner of Hometown Forecast Services.
“I think it is going to take until April for us to break out of this pattern,” Carolan remarked.
Top Photo: Pedestrians on the Brooklyn Bridge during a winter storm in the Brooklyn borough of New York, US, on Sunday, February 22, 2026. New York City has been isolated by a powerful winter storm that threatens to be among its worst on record, while across the region, 41 million people are facing blizzard conditions that have already crippled air and ground transportation. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
