Winter storm live updates: Blizzard warnings blanket Northeast as heavy snow and high winds cause travel chaos
This version of Northeast Winter Blizzard Live Updates Rcna260210 - Breaking News | NBC News Clone was adapted by NBC News Clone to help readers digest key facts more efficiently.
The blizzard has canceled and delayed flights nationwide.
What to know
- More than 40 million people remain under winter alerts, and blizzard warnings stretch more than 600 miles up the Eastern coast. More than 600,000 utility customers are without power across the Northeast.
- New York City had gotten 16 to 19 inches of snow as of this afternoon, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. Officials have warned that the storm could rank among the city’s 10 worst in 150 years.
- About 2 feet of snow has fallen in parts of New Jersey and Long Island. New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Connecticut have declared states of emergency, imposing commercial vehicle bans and travel restrictions.
- Several school districts, including those in New York City and Boston, closed schools today. Mamdani said in-person school will resume tomorrow.
- Thousands of flights have been canceled nationwide, with New York-area airports experiencing the most disruptions.
With 32 inches, Rhode Island breaks historic '78 blizzard
More than 32 inches of snow fell on Providence, Rhode Island, passing the record set by the infamous blizzard of 1978 in which 28.6 inches fell, the National Weather Service said.
As of 1 p.m., the snowfall total at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport was 32.8, the weather service said.
It breaks the record for the greatest single snowstorm on record, which was the 1978 blizzard that occurred over Feb. 6 and 7, the agency said.
Video shows car towing skier through the Brooklyn snow
Some people are turning the blizzard into a ski vacation. This New Yorker put on his skis last night and was towed by a car to take a ride around the snowy streets of Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
Christopher McKinney
Almost 20 inches of snow has fallen on New York’s Central Park
At 1 p.m. today, 19.7 inches of snow was recorded to have fallen at Central Park in New York City, the National Weather Service said.
Washington Heights, also in Manhattan, recorded 22.1 inches, according to a public reading, and in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, a trained spotter recorded 22.5 inches of snow, the weather service said.
There were higher amounts to the east on Long Island, with 24 inches reported in Lynbrook at 12:47 p.m. and a whopping 29.1 inches recorded by the weather service in Islip at 1 p.m., the agency said.
PSE&G has restored power to nearly 40,000 customers
PSE&G, the largest electric company in New Jersey, has restored power to 38,600 customers affected by the storm since yesterday morning, the company said in a statement. Nearly 4,500 remain without power.
In total, PSE&G serves 2.4 million customers.
The company said many of its service areas recorded more than a foot of snow. The utility has 3,000 employees on the ground working to restore service, it said.
In New York City, empty streets and canceled flights
Vacationers and residents alike found Manhattan's streets empty today as the storm shut down parts of the city.
“Crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Ross Kelly, who is on vacation and whose flight was canceled because of the storm.
“It’s the quietest I’ve ever seen it. I never even imagined to see it this quiet,” he said. “You can’t even see any buildings or anything like that.”
Evan Blair, who has lived in the city for most of his life, had the day off and was walking to shovel out his car parked near Central Park West.
“I went out last night for a walk, and I saw how much was coming down, and so I knew it was going to be pretty severe,” he said. “So I was pretty much prepared for this.”
Blair said the snowstorm reminded him of major storms in 2012 and 2016, but they’re not common, either.
“This feels reminiscent of them, but it’s not every year that you get something like this. It’s every 10, five years,” Blair said. “So you don’t always see this.”
“It’s really fun, it’s really nice to hang out and have it peaceful like this,” Blair said. “Everyone’s kind of taking it easy because they’ve taken the day off — except for our EMTs and our snow shovelers and everybody out here keeping the city alive as it can.”
Massachusetts governor issues south coast travel ban
All nonessential ground travel has been banned on the south coast of Massachusetts, effective immediately in Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties.
Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order this afternoon banning travel because of hazardous conditions and to support snow removal. The state Transportation Department is redeploying equipment to the South Coast to address the "extraordinary snowfall."
High waves pound houses on the shoreline today in Scituate, Mass. Joseph Prezioso / AFP - Getty Images
“This is a serious storm, and there are dangerous road conditions out there, especially on the South Coast. We have reports of abandoned and stuck cars on the roads, and tow trucks are having difficulty getting to them,” Healey said.
The speed limit on the Mass Pike has been reduced to 40 mph, and residents across the state are encouraged to stay off the roads.
NYC lifts travel ban; public schools to reopen tomorrow
Mamdani lifted New York City's travel ban as of 12 p.m. today and announced that public schools will be open for in-person instruction tomorrow.
Still, New York City remains under a local state of emergency, and a blizzard warning is in effect until 6 p.m. today. The storm has dropped 16 to 19 inches on most parts of the city, with parts of eastern Staten Island getting more than 24 inches.
A car exits the Manhattan Bridge in New York today. Ryan Murphy / Getty Images
“Though the travel ban has lifted, conditions on the road are still icy and dangerous, and we encourage New Yorkers to take public transportation if needed, stay indoors when possible and stay informed through Notify NYC,” Mamdani said in a news release.
The Sanitation Department has cleared more than 1,600 crosswalks, 419 fire hydrants and almost 900 bus stops overnight and this morning.
Forecasts indicate that "the worst has passed," the news release said, but light snow is expected through the afternoon.
Video shows downed power lines and heavy snow on Nantucket
The winter storm continues to hit Nantucket, with a coastal flood warning in effect, blankets of snow covering the island and downed power lines.
Video the Nantucket Current posted on X shows the storm's impact, with "trees, limbs, and power lines down all over the island this morning," the post read. Massachusetts has had more power outages than any other state, with 238,920 customers without power.
Philadelphia mayor says travel will remain 'nearly impossible' this afternoon
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker encouraged people to stay inside as the city works to clear roads and attend to downed trees. Travel will continue to be difficult, "and in some areas it is nearly impossible," Parker said.
"When there are fewer cars on the street, we give our crews more flexibility to do the job that we are asking them to do, so please avoid unnecessary travel and give our crews the space they need to treat the more than 2,500 miles of roadway citywide," Parker said.
Sixty-five percent of all streets throughout Philadelphia have been treated as the city employs more than 1,000 personnel and over 800 trucks and pieces of equipment.
A man shovels snow today in Philadelphia. Matthew Hatcher / Getty Images
The National Weather Service reported 13.7 inches of snow at Philadelphia International Airport this morning. More than 600 flights have been canceled, and airlines are working to resume limited service this afternoon.
Carlton Williams, director of the Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, said trash and recycling have been suspended for today and tomoorw and will run two days behind for the rest of the week. Williams also showed the city's interactive map, StreetSmartPHL, where residents can monitor when a plow has passed through a specific neighborhood.
Parker said that it "is too early right now" to determine whether school and other services will resume tomorrow but that the city hopes to share information by 6 p.m.
Cape Cod town nearly all without power
Orleans, a town on Cape Cod, is nearly 100% without power, town officials said in an update.
The town is expected to face blizzard conditions throughout the day and into the late evening, as 7 to 10 more inches of heavy snow are possible.
Town officials expect a multiday restoration process to return to full power. Eversource, the energy company, is working to get the area powered up, but difficult conditions are preventing it from doing so, the update said.
More than 600,000 without power in the Northeast
Massachusetts is leading the pack, with nearly 300,000 customers without power.
Other states facing major outages are New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia and Pennsylvania, according to PowerOutage.us.
A man shovels a driveway today in Norwell, Mass. Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images
Mamdani says his office is not aware of any deaths due to blizzard
Mayor Mamdani said that as of this afternoon, his office was not aware of any deaths from the blizzard in New York City streets or public areas.
People build a snowman today in New York's Times Square. Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images
NYC schools resume in-person classes tomorrow, Mamdani says
Students, we are so sorry.
Mayor Mamdani announced at a news conference this afternoon that all New York City schools will be in person tomorrow.
"You can still pelt me with snowballs when you see me," Mamdani said at the news conference, making the correct assumption that students, who just yesterday adored the mayor for gifting a true snow day today, will not be thrilled about tomorrow's classes.
NYC Mayor Mamdani: 'The worst has passed'
As of this afternoon, the blizzard has dumped 16-19 inches of snow on most parts of New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a news conference. Parts of eastern Staten Island are reporting more than 2 feet of snow.
A 60 mph wind gust was reported, and the city remains under a state of emergency.
The snow is expected to continue until at least 8 p.m., with 40 mph winds and between 1.5 and 2.5 more inches expected.
A hazardous travel advisory is in place until midnight, the mayor said. He said the city's travel ban was lifted at noon today.
A snow-covered street in Brooklyn this morning. Matt Nighswander / NBC News
City workers are plowing and salting the streets so emergency vehicles can safely travel.
"As heavy snow continues to fall, every single street in every single borough will be plowed as many times as necessary to make it safe for emergency travel," Mamdani said.
He urged New Yorkers to stay home.
"These are dangerous conditions. Not only is snow continuing to fall, accumulated snowfall and refreezing have made it hazardous to travel," Mamdani said. "If you can, remain indoors. If you must leave your home, please rely on public transit."
New Yorkers can sign up to help shovel snow throughout the city. The Department of Sanitation can deploy up to 1,800 shovelers per shift and is paying $30 per hour.
DOT plow truck overturned on New York highway
Multiple state and local authorities responded to the harrowing scene of a New York Department of Transportation plow truck overturned by the extreme winter weather in Bay Shore, New York, last night. The truck lay completely on its side on Sunrise Highway as snow and strong winds continued to pummel the response team.
The Bay Shore Fire Department posted on Facebook that Long Island authorities, as well as the New York Department of Transportation, responded to the Sunrise Highway incident.
"The Hazmat team will be on scene for numerous hours to clean up the diesel fuel spill, while the DEC monitors for waterway hazards," they wrote in the post.
An overturned plow truck in Bay Shore, N.Y. Bay Shore Fire Dept.
Connecticut's state of emergency and travel ban to continue
Connecticut's Director of Emergency Management William Turner gave an update on the winter storm, reporting that more outages are expected and encouraging people to stay off the roads.
The state is still under a state of emergency, with a commercial travel ban in effect. Severe cold-weather protocol will remain in place until at least noon tomorrow.
Power outages are expected to go up as heavy, wet snow continues to accumulate. Turner said that, for now, outages have been holding steady at 15,000 across the state.
State police have responded to over 250 motor vehicle assists and 82 accidents, two of which had minor injuries.
Blizzard conditions no match for Jersey Shore dog walker
When we first caught up with Long Branch resident Kathryn South yesterday, she told us we’d see her today out and about in the blizzard conditions. She kept her word.
“It’s wonderful. I like snow, but this is intense,” South said. “They’ve plowed, and they’ve plowed it to the point where it’s just, everything is a sheet of ice.”
Long Branch resident Kathryn South in the snow today with her dog, Holly Golightly. NBC News
She and her snow-loving dog, Holly Golightly, took their morning walk near the boardwalk this morning.
NBC News
“When you have a dog, you’ve got to get them out,” South said. “Most people don’t, but she loves the snow. So I hate to not give it to her. It’s so rare.”
DoorDash extends NYC suspension to 2 p.m.
DoorDash won't be operating in New York City until at least 2 p.m., the company announced. The announcement extends an existing operations suspension.
In an earlier statement, DoorDash spokesperson Julian Crowley said, "We’re closely monitoring conditions and will resume as soon as it’s safe to do so."
Coastal flooding and snow hit Ocean City, New Jersey
Video posted to social media shows an unusual sight — a beach town covered in snow.
One video posted to Facebook shows one area of the Jersey Shore town not only covered in snow, but also in 2 feet of water — thanks to blizzard conditions and coastal flooding. That video shows water swirling down quiet streets as wind and snow whip in the air.
Another video, posted around 1 a.m., shows an area that appeared to be free of flooding.
By the time the sun rose at the shore, the video showed a winter wonderland, with mounds of untouched snow covering trees and homes.
Rhode Island governor shares snowy image outside state emergency center
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee shared an image this morning of the snowy conditions outside the State Emergency Operations Center in Cranston.
Hoboken travel ban extended to 4 p.m. today
Hoboken will remain under a travel ban until 4 p.m. today, the city announced on social media. Unless you are an exempt essential worker, the city asks that you stay home.
The Northern New Jersey city has already gotten 14 inches of snow and snow is expected to continue for the next few hours.
"Staying off the roads allows crews to continue plowing safely and allows public safety to address emergencies quickly," the city's post said.
More than 2,500 flights have been canceled in the New York area
More than 2,500 flights have been canceled in the New York area due to the blizzard, according to an 8 a.m. update from the Federal Aviation Administration and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
At JFK, 1,087 flights were canceled, LaGuardia had 1,025 cancellations and Newark canceled 861 flights. There are no remaining arrivals or departures at any of the airports.
Plows clear snow from the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport today. Shannon Stapleton / Reuters
Travelers should not go to the airport unless they get an update from their airline confirming their flight is operating. Travelers should also check their flight status directly with their airline before leaving home.
Ongoing delays are expected due to limited transportation access around the airports.
A powerful blizzard pummels the Northeast
A life-threatening nor'easter is barreling up the East Coast, burying major cities such as Philadelphia, New York and Boston in a foot of snow.
Seven governors have declared states of emergency, including New Jersey, which is facing its first blizzard warning in three decades.
Blizzard conditions and heavy winds are making this storm more dangerous and intense than the January snowstorm that hit the Northeast.
Pedestrians trudge through snowy ghost town in midtown Manhattan
Matt Nighswander / NBC News
People out on the streets were mostly workers clearing snow, but a few folks braved the blizzard conditions.
Matt Nighswander / NBC News
Matt Nighswander / NBC News
Blizzard forces nationwide cancellations and delays
The blizzard in the Northeast is causing a mess for nationwide travel, with 89% of flights out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York already canceled.
Cancellations out of Laguardia Airport in New York and Boston are both above 90%.
In total, 5,300 flights have been canceled and more than 700 have been delayed. Those numbers are expected to grow as the day and the storm go on.
Nearly 600,000 without power in Northeast
A total of 585,168 customers are without power as of 9:55 a.m. today, with the majority of outages in Massachusetts (238, 920 customers) and New Jersey (135, 735).
Nor'easter in full swing
Sixty-nine million people remain under winter alerts this morning, and blizzard warnings stretch more than 600 miles up the East Coast.
Snowfall totals are already approaching 2 feet across parts of New Jersey and Long Island. A wind gust of 84 mph was felt in Montauk, New York, this morning.
Central Park recorded just more than 15 inches of snowfall as of 7 a.m., and snow will continue to accumulate throughout the day. An additional 3-6 inches is expected for the tristate area, and up to a foot or more in New England.
A man skis in Central Park this morning. Ryan Murphy / Getty Images
By the time the snow ends, a widespread 1-2 feet will blanket the ground, with some areas picking up more than 2 feet.
Even as the snow tapers off by this afternoon and evening, winds will remain strong, keeping the risk of power outages and tree damage into the night.
Satellite video shows massive storm looming over East Coast
A video from 9:25 a.m., captured by the National Weather Service, shows the massive scale and power of this weekend's winter storm as it pummels the East Coast.
The video, posted by the National Weather Service New York on X, was taken by the GOES East satellite.
NOAA
New Yorkers told not to bury catch basins as city digs out of snow
As New Yorkers start clearing snow this morning, the city's water authority is urging residents to ensure their local catch basins are free of debris.
"Remember not to bury catch basins and hydrants if you’re on shoveling duty, so these vital pieces of infrastructure can continue to do their job!" NYC Water said in a post on X.
What to expect from the Northeast blizzard
Wind gusts up to 60 mph, widespread power outages and snowfall measured in feet — this blizzard is no joke.
Windchill is about 5 degrees Fahrenheit in New York, where there is already around 15 inches of snow on the ground, with snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour for the next few hours.
But there's hope — temperatures should hit 40 degrees by Wednesday, which should help thaw the Northeast and melt the snow.
Blizzard scenes as Brooklyn wakes up
Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images
Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images
Parked cars and trees are covered in snow in the aftermath of a blizzard this morning, as convenience stores pelted with frost are shoveled clear in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood.
15 inches of snow recorded in New York City
The National Weather Service in New York state reports 15 inches of snow in Central Park in New York City, as well as at the city's John F. Kennedy International Airport, which has experienced hundreds of delayed and canceled flights.
Travel restrictions in New Jersey extended until noon today, governor says
The mandatory travel restrictions in New Jersey have been extended until noon today due to hazardous storm conditions, Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a post on X this morning.
"Please stay inside and stay safe," Sherrill said. "Give road crews the space they need to do their jobs."
Sherrill announced yesterday the restriction would go into effect at 9 p.m. and lift at 7 a.m. today.
Powerful blizzard slams Northeast: When will conditions improve?
A life-threatening nor’easter is barreling up the East Coast, burying Philadelphia, New York and Boston in more than a foot of snow. At least seven governors declared states of emergency as powerful wind gusts up to 70 mph cause coastal flooding, power outages and treacherous roads.
NBC’s Emilie Ikeda reports and the "TODAY" show’s Al Roker tracks where the blizzard is headed.
Intense wind gusts creating snowdrifts in New Jersey
The snow is piling up in Long Branch, New Jersey, with wind gusts leading to snowdrifts.
More snow is expected in the coming hours in this area of New Jersey, where wind gusts approached 50 mph overnight. Our team observed several flashing lights with our hotel losing power numerous times overnight.
'Locked, loaded, plowing,' NYC mayor says
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani offered New Yorkers the chance to track the city's snow removing fleet in real time this morning. "Locked, loaded, plowing," he said in a post on X.
A snowplow moves along a street in New York City last night. David Dee Delgado / Getty Images
Mamdani issued a travel ban yesterday until 12 p.m. today, with travel limited to essential and emergency trips only.
It is also a full snow day for schools, Mamdani also announced earlier, with no remote learning.
Around 350,000 customers without power in the Northeast
The number of customers without power has increased again since early this morning to around 350,000.
The highest number of outages are in New Jersey at more than 117,000, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us. Both Delaware and Massachusetts have more than 60,000 customers without power.
Snow blankets Cliffside Park, New Jersey, this morning
A fresh layer of unplowed snow covers Anderson Avenue in Cliffside Park, N.J., early this morning.
Joshua Jongsma / USA Today via Imagn
Expect whiteout conditions in heavy blowing snow, New York Weather Service says
The National Weather Service branch in New York state is warning residents to expect whiteout conditions in heavy blowing snow as it said travel bans remained in effect for parts of the area with significant disruptions to emergency services and transportation.
Whiteout conditions occur most often with major storms that produce a drier, more powdery snow, and can make driving difficult, if not impossible, the agency says.
Officially, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm, which contains large amounts of snow or blowing snow, with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1/4 mile for an extended period of time (at least 3 hours).
Major Nor’easter rapidly intensifying, National Weather Service says
The storm is rapidly intensifying off the Delaware and New Jersey coastline, the National Weather Service said in the latest advisory this morning.
The forecast remains on track in terms of expected impacts with this powerful system, the advisory said, with very heavy snowfall rates upward of 2 to 3 inches per hour and gusty winds of 40 to 70 mph continuing to batter the Northeast today, while also spreading into New England this morning as the storm begins to accelerate.
By tomorrow morning, some areas near the coastline could wake up to storm total snowfall amounts of 1 or 2 feet as the low departs into the Canadian Maritimes, the advisory added.
The National Weather Service defines a nor’easter as a storm along the East Coast of North America, so called because the winds over the coastal area are typically from the northeast. These storms may occur at any time of year but are most frequent and most violent between September and April.
Flight cancellations, delays growing amid the storm
Flight cancellations and delays are piling up this morning due to severe weather conditions.
Air travel tracker FlightAware says total cancellations within, to or out of the United States today stand at 5,336, with delays at 579.
New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is responsible for most of the travel disruptions, with 544 flights canceled, according to FlightAware, followed by LaGuardia Airport with 514 cancellations.
Delays and cancellations at LaGuardia Airport in New York yesterday. Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images
Boston Logan, Newark Liberty International and Philadelphia International airports are all also experiencing hundreds of cancellations.
JFK also warned of a planned full system suspension of AirTrain service connecting its terminals last night. It said free shuttle buses will replace the service at all stations.
Princeton University closed for non-essential personnel today
Princeton University said it will be closed for non-essential personnel today.
Classes scheduled to begin before noon may not meet in person, the university said in a statement. An update on afternoon classes will be provided by 11 a.m. local time, it said, and instructors may elect to hold any class meetings remotely or reschedule.
Sunday night snow blankets New York City
People walk through the snow during a citywide travel ban in New York City last night.
Ryan Murphy / Getty Images
New Jersey Transit remains suspended
NJ Transit has suspended its train, bus, light rail and access link services due to severe weather.
Service will remain suspended through the beginning of the service day today, until conditions allow for the gradual resumption of service, NJ Transit said in a post on X.
New York state nearing peak of the storm, National Weather Service says
The state of New York is nearing the peak of the snow storm and should continue to see blizzard conditions through at least daybreak, the local branch of the National Weather Service said.
Intense snow bands are beginning to track northwest over Long Island, bringing strong winds and snowfall rate of 2-3 inches per hour, the agency said in a post on X.
9-11 inches of snow reported so far in Manhattan
New York City's emergency management agency said it's receiving unofficial local weather reports of between 9 and 11 inches of snow in Manhattan, 9-12 inches in Bronx and up to 14 inches in Staten Island.
Warming centers are available across the city for New Yorkers vulnerable to the cold, the agency said in a post on X, as it reminded of the travel ban on all non-essential vehicles remaining in effect until noon local time.
Nearly 240,000 customers without power in the Northeast
The number of utility customers without power has risen overnight as the storm intensifies.
The number is now approaching 240,000 across several states in the Northeast, with the greatest number of outages in New Jersey at more than 95,000, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us.
