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Air travel across the region was severely disrupted. More than 10,000 flights were cancelled, as airlines pre-emptively grounded aircraft ahead of the storm's peak. Monday alone accounted for over 5,000 cancellations, with more than 1,300 already scrapped for Tuesday as carriers prepared a cautious return to service.
New York City banned non-essential travel until midday Monday. (Photo: AP)
UPDATED: Feb 24, 2026 00:32 IST
A powerful winter storm swept across the US Northeast on Monday, blanketing cities in thick snow and leaving millions of people stuck at home as roads turned treacherous and public transport shut down. Streets that are usually packed with commuters fell quiet, airports emptied and schools closed as heavy snowfall and fierce winds brought daily life close to a standstill.
Air travel across the region was severely disrupted. More than 10,000 flights were cancelled between Saturday and Tuesday, according to tracking service FlightAware, as airlines pre-emptively grounded aircraft ahead of the storm’s peak. Monday alone accounted for over 5,000 cancellations, with more than 1,300 already scrapped for Tuesday as carriers prepared a cautious return to service.
Major hubs including New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports, Boston Logan and Newark Liberty were among the worst affected. Rail and bus networks also suspended services in several states, stranding commuters and leaving normally crowded terminals quiet.
On the ground, authorities imposed sweeping travel restrictions. New York City banned non-essential travel until midday Monday, while parts of New York state, New Jersey and Rhode Island issued similar orders.
"I'm urging every New Yorker to please stay home," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said as crews struggled to clear streets.
15 INCHES OF SNOW RECORDED IN NEW YORK CITY
New York City recorded more than 15 inches in Central Park by Monday morning, with higher amounts reported across Long Island and New Jersey, where some communities approached or exceeded two feet. Philadelphia saw around a foot, while Boston continued to accumulate snow into the evening.
According to local media, meteorologists said the storm met blizzard criteria, with sustained winds above 35 mph and gusts reaching 40–60 mph from Delaware to Massachusetts. Coastal locations including eastern Long Island and Nantucket reported gusts above 60 mph, driving drifts several feet high.
The Weather Service warned that travel conditions were "nearly impossible" across parts of the Interstate 95 corridor, where crashes and stranded vehicles caused hours-long delays.
"The combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds will continue to produce blizzard conditions along the Northeastern Seaboard," the weather service added on Monday. "Sharply reduced visibility will make travel extremely treacherous across these areas."
MASSIVE OUTAGES HIT EAST COAST
The storm also knocked out electricity to more than 570,000 homes and businesses across the East Coast. Massachusetts and New Jersey were hardest hit, followed by Delaware and Rhode Island, according to PowerOutage.us. Utility crews worked in high winds and deep snow to restore service as temperatures dropped.
State leaders activated emergency responses. New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed Guard members to assist in the most affected regions, including Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley. Massachusetts declared a state of emergency and ordered non-essential state workers to stay home.
The United Nations headquarters in New York closed for the day as the storm intensified across the city.
- Ends
With inputs from agencies
Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Feb 24, 2026
