Blizzard live updates: Monster storm dropping 3 inches of snow per hour

EMILY SHAPIROMon, February 23, 2026 at 4:28 PM UTC

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A massive winter storm is barreling through the Northeast, dumping more than 2 feet of snow and prompting the first blizzard warning for New York City in nearly a decade.

The governors of New York and New Jersey have issued states of emergency as blizzard warnings are in effect in New Jersey, New York City, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Latest Developments

Feb 23, 8:17 AMNew Jersey travel ban extended to noon, Hoboken's ban extended to 4pmNew Jersey’s travel ban, which began at 9 p.m. Sunday, will now remain in effect until noon on Monday, police announced. New Jersey State Police said the "extension is necessary due to …. [the] heavy snowfall, blizzard-like conditions, and strong winds that continue to create dangerous travel conditions.""Residents are urged to avoid all non-essential travel until the restriction is lifted," police said.

Gary Hershorn/ABC News - PHOTO: People walk down a snow-covered street at daybreak in Hoboken, NJ, Feb. 23, 2026.

This is the first time all of New Jersey has been under a blizzard warning in 30 years. In Hoboken, just outside New York City, officials said the city travel ban is extended to 4 p.m.

Gary Hershorn/ABC News - PHOTO: A person walks through the snow in Hoboken, NJ, Feb. 23, 2026.

Staying off the roads allows crews to continue plowing safely and allows public safety to address emergencies quickly," city officials said.New Jersey Transit said it's suspended all of its trains and busses until further notice.

Feb 23, 11:11 AMWind gusts over 80 mphThe blizzard’s powerful winds are downing trees, damaging cars, knocking out power and causing extremely dangerous travel conditions. Wind gusts have hit 84 mph in the Hamptons in New York; 83 mph on Nantucket in Massachusetts; 73 mph on Cape Cod, Massachusetts; and 62 mph at New York City’s JFK airport.

ABC News - PHOTO: A person walks past a downed branch blocking a snow-covered street in Hoboken, NJ, Feb. 23, 2026.

Feb 23, 6:29 AMSnow totals top 2 feetSnow totals are topping 2 feet across the Northeast as the monster storm continues to slam the region. Snow totals so far have hit a whopping 27 inches near Westhampton, New York; 26 inches in Richmond, Rhode Island; 24 inches in Swansea, Massachusetts; 22 inches in Chester, Connecticut; and Langhorne, Pennsylvania; and 19 inches in Bethel, Delaware. Philadelphia has recorded more than 13 inches, marking the city's biggest single snowfall in 10 years, while Freehold, New Jersey, is buried under 2 feet of snow.

Gary Hershorn/ABC News - PHOTO: Snow piles up on a row of Citibike bicycles during a snowstorm in Hoboken, NJ, Feb. 23, 2026.

ABC News - PHOTO: A person walks through the snow in Hoboken, NJ, Feb. 23, 2026.

Feb 23, 6:11 AMPower outages hit NortheastThe storm is knocking out power across the Northeast, with Massachusetts and New Jersey hit the hardest with 270,000 and 120,000 customers without power respectively.

Seth Wenig/AP - PHOTO: Pedestrians cross 42nd Street near Bryant Park during a snow storm, Feb. 23, 2026, in New York City.

Feb 23, 10:22 AM'Please stay home,' New York governor saysNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging New Yorkers to "stay home and keep the roads clear for plows and first responders" as the heavy snow and powerful winds continue.

Seth Wenig/AP - PHOTO: A worker with the Times Square Alliance sanitation crew shovels snow in Times Square, Feb. 23, 2026, in New York City.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images - PHOTO: People walk over the Brooklyn Bridge as snow falls during a blizzard, February 23, 2026 in New York City.

State emergency officials said snowfall rates of 1-to-3 inches per hour are expected, "making travel nearly impossible." As residents hunker down, Hochul on social media asked people to "check on your neighbors, especially older adults, and report power outages."

Feb 23, 10:09 AMBlizzard seen from spaceThe National Weather Service posted this image of the Northeast blizzard seen from space.

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Feb 23, 6:55 AMLatest forecast on Monday morningA blizzard warning remains in effect across New Jersey, New York City and Connecticut through Monday evening, with the monster storm marking the first blizzard warning for New York City in nine years.

Ryan Murphy/Getty Images - PHOTO: An NYPD vehicle is seen parked in front of the 72nd Street subway station during a city-wide travel ban on Feb. 23, 2026 in New York City.

A blizzard warning is also in effect in Boston, Rhode Island and some of the Maine coast through Tuesday morning. Powerful winds could reach 55 mph in New York City and 75 mph in Boston. Wind gusts have reached 84 mph on Long Island and 73 mph on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

The heavy snow and winds will be strongest in the morning and then weaken in the afternoon across New Jersey and New York City. In the afternoon, the snow will continue in Rhode Island, Boston and the Maine coast before tapering off in the evening.

Ryan Murphy/Getty Images - PHOTO: A Gray's Papaya restaurant is seen during snowfall while a city-wide travel ban takes place on Feb. 23, 2026 in New York City.

But when the snow lightens up, the winds will still be very strong, reducing visibility Monday night. Storm totals are on track to reach 1 to 2 feet across much of the Northeast. New York City and Boston could see 20 inches; New York’s Long Island could see 2 feet; and New Jersey and Philadelphia are forecast to get 11 to 15 inches. Coastal flooding is also a major concern along the coast from Virginia up to Boston. Parts of Long Island could see more than 2 feet of flood inundation. -ABC News’ Kenton Gewecke

Feb 23, 6:25 AMOver 5,000 flights canceled Monday

More than 5,000 flights have been canceled within, into or out of the U.S. on Monday, with airports in New York City, New Jersey, Boston and Philadelphia hit the hardest. While those airports remain open, travelers are advised to check their flight status before heading out the door.

Feb 23, 3:12 AMStorm intensifies as Staten Island marks foot of snow

The winter storm continues to rapidly intensify off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina, now producing heavy snow and gusty winds from Virginia Beach to Philadelphia to New York City to Newport, Rhode Island.Heavy bands of snow are producing 1-3 inches per hour of snow fall have been observed and are expected to continue over the next few hours, particularly into the morning from New Jersey and New York City out to Long Island, as well as to Hartford, Connecticut, and Providence, Rhode Island.

Jeenah Moon/Reuters - PHOTO: A pedestrian walks on a street as snow falls during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City, U.S., Feb. 22, 2026.

Some bands have been strong enough to produce lightning and thundersnow, too, over the past couple of hours. There have been some reports of thundersnow in Long Branch, New Jersey, and briefly in New York City. We could continue to see that with the heaviest bands through this morning along the coast from Virginia to the Jersey Shore and Long Island to coastal New England.Visibilities have dropped to less than a half mile at New York City’s Central Park, with wind gusts between 20 and 33 mph being reported through the overnight hours. While New York City has not yet reached blizzard conditions -- which require gusts of 35 mph, visibilities down to 1/4 mile or less, all for at least three consecutive hours -- they are seeing near-whiteout conditions leading to reduced visibilities.

Jeenah Moon/Reuters - PHOTO: Chairs are covered in snow in front of a restaurant as snow falls during a winter storm in the Brooklyn Borough of New York City, U.S., Feb. 22, 2026.

As of 12 a.m. ET, the center of the storm measured a pressure of 980 mb. At 12 p.m. ET Sunday, the center of the storm had measured a pressure of 1,005 mb. This means that within the span of 12 hours, the center of the storm dropped 25 mb in pressure and surpassed the criteria of "bombogenesis" -- a pressure drop of at least 24 mb within 24 hours.The storm is expected to continue rapidly intensifying over the next few hours and the center of the storm will continue to deepen, allowing for stronger wind gusts and heavier snow bands with the nor'easter through this morning.-ABC News' Kyle Reiman

Feb 22, 9:30 PMPower outages in New Jersey and Virginia

As of 9 p.m. on Sunday night, more than 21,000 customers were without power in New Jersey, and more than 12,000 customers were without power in Virginia. -ABC News' Kyle Reiman

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