Winter storm preparedness tips to stay safe
Learn what to bring, how to protect your home, and how to stay safe during winter storms with this essential safety guide.
- A powerful nor’easter is expected to bring blizzards and heavy snow to the Northeast.
- New York’s governor declared a state of emergency in more than 20 counties ahead of the storm.
- The storm caused major travel disruptions, with nearly half of all flights at New York City’s major airports canceled.
- The historic storm could dump up to 2 feet of snow in some areas, including parts of New England.
The effects of a powerful nor’easter are rapidly intensifying off the Mid-Atlantic coast, with heavy snow, strong winds, coastal flooding and snowstorms expected to affect more than 90 million people in New York City and much of the Northeast between February 22 and 23.
Forecasters said the storm could dump up to 2 feet or more of snow in parts of the New York City area, with snowfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour at times, reducing visibility and making travel extremely dangerous.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has already declared a state of emergency in more than 20 counties and activated the New York National Guard.
The storm also disrupted air traffic in the area. Nearly half of all flights to and from New York City’s three major airports (John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty) have been canceled, with additional ground stops likely as the storm intensifies.
Beyond the city, the storm poses a major threat to coastal and inland areas of the Northeast. Long Island, eastern New Jersey, and southeastern New England could see record snowfall, and strong east to northeast winds could cause coastal flooding, particularly in western Long Island Sound and parts of Massachusetts.
“A potentially historic winter storm will impact the tri-state region today through Monday,” the National Weather Service in New York City said in a statement. “Situations are dangerous with a blizzard expected tonight.”
The heaviest snow and blizzard conditions will weaken late Monday, February 23 as the storm moves offshore.
Bureau of Meteorology warning
As of 1pm on February 22nd, more than 93 million people in the Northeast were under some form of winter weather warning. That includes more than 40 million people under blizzard warnings and about 14 million under winter storm warnings, said Cody Snell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
The heaviest snow is expected to fall along an area from southern New Jersey to southeastern Massachusetts, Snell said. “They saw 1 to 2 feet of snow and locally more bands of snow.”
Some areas could see more than 2 feet of snow in isolated bands, he said. A National Weather Service forecast map shows a 10% chance of about 3 feet of snow falling in southeastern Massachusetts.
The snow will be heavy and wet, increasing the risk of damage from its weight and the expected strong winds. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of possible damage to trees, power lines, poorly constructed structures and other infrastructure.
It has been 10 to 20 years since a blizzard warning was issued for some parts of this region. The last time a blizzard warning was issued for all of New Jersey was in January 1996, and the last time a blizzard warning was issued for all of Delaware on February 10, 2010, according to the local weather service. The last time a snowstorm warning was issued for Maryland’s four Eastern Shore counties was in 2016.
New York mayor bans travel, cancels classes
As a snowstorm hits New York City, Mayor Zoran Mamdani seizes the opportunity and imposes a travel ban from 9pm Sunday to 9am Monday. All bridges and roads will be closed to non-essential traffic to keep residents off the streets during the storm.
Public schools will also be closed on Saturday for a “classic snow day,” a sharp contrast to January, when students had to attend online classes during another winter storm, a decision that prompted some students to get creative and email the mayor’s wife, according to Bloomberg.
State of emergency declared in New York
On February 21, Hochul declared a state of emergency in more than 20 counties and activated the New York National Guard as a powerful snowstorm is expected to impact New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley.
The state of emergency includes the following counties and contiguous areas: Albany, Bronx, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester.
Starting Sunday, February 22, 100 New York National Guard members and 25 vehicles will be deployed throughout the Lower Hudson Valley, New York City, and Long Island to support local response efforts. Hochul said the state emergency operations center will also be operational Sunday morning.
Coastal flood warning in effect
More than 23 million people are under warnings and advisories due to the possibility of coastal flooding in low-lying areas and inland areas along rivers due to powerful storms overnight into Monday.
Widespread moderate flooding is expected in vulnerable areas near waterfronts along the coasts of Connecticut and southern Westchester County, New York, with 1.5 to 2.5 feet of water below ground level. Flooding could result in numerous road closures and widespread flooding of parking lots, lawns, homes and businesses near the waterfront. The Bureau of Meteorology said vehicles parked in vulnerable areas near the coast were likely to be flooded.
Flood levels in Westchester and Connecticut are determined by when winds change in relation to high tides. If the change to northerly winds occurs before high tide, water levels will reach the lower end of the forecast, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Flood warnings have been issued for New York, Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, southern Queens, and parts of New Jersey’s Hudson, Bergen, Essex, and Union counties, with 1 to 2 feet of flooding expected by 2 a.m. on February 23.
Along the Massachusetts coast, the National Weather Service warned that low-lying areas near the coastline could experience flooding of 2 to 3 feet above ground level.
New England’s historic snowstorm
The National Weather Service in Norton, Massachusetts, southeast of the Boston-Providence corridor, is warning of the possibility of a historic storm, with 21 inches of snow expected in Providence and a high forecast of 35 inches, potentially surpassing the record-breaking 1978 snowstorm that fell 28.6 inches in two days.
The combination of wet snow and northeast wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph could cause power outages and tree damage, with the worst conditions expected between 4 a.m. and noon Monday.
New York City airport cancels nearly half of all flights for February 22nd
More than 11,200 flights across the U.S. were canceled or delayed as of Sunday morning, according to FlightAware.
As of 11 a.m. Eastern time. Sunday:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport – 42% of departures and 63% of arrivals canceled
- laguardia airport – 47% of departures and 63% of arrivals canceled
- Newark Liberty International Airport – 29% of departures and 42% of arrivals canceled
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there may be ground stops throughout New York City this afternoon.
How much snow is expected? Show totals by region
Snowfall amounts are expected to range from 12 to 24 inches in the central and northeastern Appalachians. According to the Weather Prediction Center, the forecast totals by region are as follows:
new york city subway
In New York City and its surrounding areas, 18 to 22 inches of snow is expected at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports, and 20 to 24 inches could fall at Islip Airport, according to the National Weather Service in New York City. Areas north and west of the city, including the Lower Hudson Valley, could see 12 to 18 inches. Blizzard conditions are expected tonight through Monday morning, with snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour along the coast and wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph.
long island
Long Island is expected to see 20 to 24 inches of snow, with some areas potentially seeing even more locally. A band of snow overnight could produce gusts of more than 2.5 inches per hour and wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph in eastern areas of the island.
connecticut
Coastal areas of Connecticut could see 15 to 20 inches of snow, while inland areas could see 12 to 18 inches.
new jersey
Along the central Jersey Shore, there is a 50% chance of more than 24 inches of snow. Eastern New Jersey is expected to see 18 to 24 inches of rain, with blizzard conditions expected along the coast and in urban areas.
Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Widespread accumulations of 18 to 24 inches of snow are expected along I-95, with higher accumulations possible if the heavy band stalls in certain areas. Wind gusts could reach 60 to 70 mph on Cape Cod and the islands, creating dangerous whiteout conditions.
central appalachian mountains
Long slope snow is expected to fall from the Laurels region of Pennsylvania to central West Virginia, with more than 8 inches of snow expected to accumulate in these higher elevations.
after it snows
With more than two feet of snow possible and heavy snow expected, the National Weather Service is warning people to be extra careful as snow removal operations begin by Tuesday. Snell, of the National Weather Service Prediction Center, said the weather service expected “a lot of heart attacks” from shoveling snow.
After the winter storm in late January 2026, six or more deaths related to snow shoveling were reported.
Snow shovels, especially those over the age of 45, are advised to stay hydrated and take plenty of breaks. Be especially careful if the wind is blowing and wear layers such as a hat and gloves.
power outage map
nor’easter storm radar
Weather forecasts and alerts
Stay informed. Receive weather forecasts by text
Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as a Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at baddison@gannett.com..
