NYC Covered In Snow As Winter Storm Hits US; Rare Thundersnow Strikes World Trade Center | Videos

Last Updated:February 24, 2026, 07:56 IST

Thundersnow hit One World Trade Center as NYC got over 15 inches of snow. Locals enjoyed snowball fights.

A rare and dramatic weather phenomenon lit up the skies over New York City as a powerful winter storm buried parts of the US Northeast under snow on Monday.

As blizzard conditions intensified, multiple lightning bolts struck One World Trade Center, illuminating the snow-filled skies above Lower Manhattan. The flashes, followed by booming thunder, marked a rare event known as thundersnow — a thunderstorm that occurs during heavy snowfall rather than rain.

The spectacle unfolded as more than 15 inches of snow accumulated in Central Park, with some parts of the tri-state area reporting up to 30 inches during Winter Storm Hernando. Airports shut down, roads became impassable and a state of emergency was declared across New York City and New Jersey.

According to the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, thundersnow forms when strong upward air motion combines with abundant moisture — conditions similar to those in tropical systems but occurring in freezing temperatures. The instability allows lightning to develop within towering snow clouds, typically during rapidly intensifying winter storms.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines described the event as unusual but not unheard of during powerful nor’easters. While visually stunning, experts warn that lightning during a snowstorm is just as dangerous as during a summer thunderstorm.

Videos shared online captured the surreal scene: bright bolts cutting through swirling snow, thunder echoing across an otherwise hushed city blanketed in white.

Several videos showing New York City covered in snow have surfaced on X, with people enjoying the weather. One video that emerged on X shows people playing in the accumulated snow at Washington Square Park. “Massive snowball fight at Washington Square Park," a user wrote on X.

“2 ft of snowfall cleared before dinner time. Credit has to go to a well done management by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. @NYCMayor. Not a fan of his policies, but blizzard management was done well. #NYC," another user commented on Tuesday, sharing a picture of a lane in NYC after the snow was removed from the area.

“Welcome additions to the skyline of Manhattan following Monday’s blizzard in New York City, seen from Hoboken, NJ , " a third user wrote while sharing pictures of a snowman.

“The Blizzard Begat Beauty. Magical Jackson Heights- NYC Blizzard 2026," a fourth user remarked, sharing a picture of a snow-covered lane.

Though the blizzard brought travel chaos and widespread shutdowns, the rare display of thundersnow added a dramatic — and electrifying — chapter to one of the region’s most intense winter storms in recent years.

News world NYC Covered In Snow As Winter Storm Hits US; Rare Thundersnow Strikes World Trade Center | Videos

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