Live updates: Historic blizzard targets millions in the Northeast with blinding snow, intense winds

FOX Forecast Center is tracking a potentially historic nor'easter

New York City is now under coastal flood warning, as coastal flood watches have been elevated to coastal flood warnings from Delaware to Maine beginning Sunday night and lasting until Tuesday. 

Significant beach erosion and moderate coastal flooding are likely as a powerful nor’easter will lash the East Coast with dangerous storm swells.

Hurricane Hunters flight tracker

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron 71 departed from Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi to sample the environment ahead of the formation of a potentially historic nor'easter forecast to slam the Northeast Sunday.

The data collected is used to inform weather models to improve blizzard forecast as millions brace for a weekend of harsh winter weather in the Northeast.

Track their flight here.

NJ Transit is taking aggressive measures to ensure resident safety as the historic bomb cyclone approaches, officially announcing systemwide cross-honoring for all rail, bus, and light rail services.

This allows passengers to use their tickets or passes on alternate travel modes to reach their destinations as safely and quickly as possible.

While service is being maintained as long as safely possible, officials are deeply concerned about travel conditions on major arteries like the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, where speed limits have already been dropped in anticipation of the storm.

NJ Transit leadership and Governor Sherrill are strongly urging all New Jerseyans to stay off the roads to prevent accidents and allow emergency crews the "time and space" needed to clear heavy accumulation.

As New York City enters a high-alert phase for a massive blizzard, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has mobilized an extensive emergency warming network to protect vulnerable residents.

To ensure no one is left in the life-threatening elements, the city has deployed a fleet of over 18 warming buses stationed near major hospitals, subway hubs, and drop-in centers.

Additionally, 13 schools across all five boroughs have been converted into emergency warming centers, while 11 NYC Health + Hospitals facilities are operating as 24/7 warming hubs.

Officials are urging New Yorkers to call 311 to locate the nearest facility and to check on neighbors as the storm hits.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that a final determination on the status of NYC Public Schools for Monday will be communicated to families by noon on Sunday.

During a weather briefing, the Mayor said the delay in making a final call is largely due to the evolving nature of the forecast.

Rather than canceling classes altogether, the city may move to remote learning for Monday due to the extreme winter weather conditions.

The MTA is moving into emergency positioning as a historic blizzard prepares to slam New York City’s transit network.

With over 220 miles of outdoor track vulnerable to heavy snow and 50 mph gusts, the agency is deploying its full arsenal of snow-clearing trains and de-icing equipment to keep the system moving.

Commuters should prepare for a difficult Monday, as express trains will likely be moved to local tracks to store trains in the tunnels and to allow for continuous snow removal.

While crews will be working around the clock to monitor and clear tracks, significant delays and service modifications are expected across the subways, LIRR, and Metro-North.

Governor Mikie Sherrill will hold a special press conference at 2:00 p.m. ET today as the state prepares for the impending historic blizzard.

On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency for the entire state of New York as a relentless series of winter storms threatened public safety and critical infrastructure.

The ongoing cycle of heavy snow, high winds, and dangerously low temperatures since late January has significantly depleted the state’s supply of road salt and other vital resources.

This executive order allows for more efficient coordination of emergency personnel and streamlines the procurement of essential supplies to ensure that state and local governments can continue responding to hazardous roadway conditions and potential power outages.

New Yorkers are urged to limit travel and follow all local safety protocols as crews work around the clock to gear up for Sunday's impending blizzard.

The FOX Forecast Center says new model data suggests some major cities will see even more snow than expected.

• New York City: 12-18"
• Long Island: 18-24"
• Jersey Shore: 18-24"
• Boston: 18-24"
• Long Island: 12-18"
• Philadelphia: 12-18"
• Baltimore: 8-12"
• Washington: 5-8"

Latest snow forecast from FOX Weather showing 1-2 feet of snow along I-95 in the Northeast.

While standard blizzards are dramatic enough, this weekend’s bomb cyclone brings the rare and electrifying possibility of thundersnow.

Often described as a winter thunderstorm, thundersnow occurs when the primary precipitation is snow instead of rain. It is a rare phenomenon because cold, dense winter air is typically too stable to rise and create lightning; however, when a storm bombs out with extreme intensity, it can create the powerful upward motion—or convection—necessary to generate a charge.

Because snow muffles sound, you often won’t hear the thunder until you are within a few miles of the lightning strike, making the experience both eerie and awe-inspiring.

LEARN

What is thundersnow?

Most people associate thunder and lightning with thunderstorms, but you shouldn't be surprised if you hear a rumble or two coming from the sky during heavy snow.

Who could see it this weekend?

FOX Weather forecasters are watching the most intense mesoscale snow bands for thundersnow potential. These are the areas where snow rates could hit 2 to 3 inches per hour.

• The I-95 corridor: Residents in New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston could have a front-row seat as the storm reaches maximum intensity Sunday night into Monday morning.
• Coastal New Jersey & Long Island: As the center of the bomb cyclone passes just offshore, the atmospheric instability will be highest here, potentially triggering flashes of blue lightning amidst the whiteout.
• New England coast: Areas from Providence up to Portland could see thundersnow as the system pushes northeast through Monday afternoon.

While the official forecast for major cities like New York City and Philadelphia currently sits in the 12-to-18-inch range, FOX Forecast Center meteorologists are keeping a close eye on "jackpot" potential where totals could soar much higher.

The key to hitting elusive 24"+ snow totals lies in the development of narrow mesoscale snow bands—intense ribbons of moisture that can drop 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour for several consecutive hours.

If the storm bombs out with maximum intensity and stalls slightly offshore in the perfect spot, these bands could remain stationary over lucky (or unlucky) areas in South Jersey, Long Island, or eastern New England, potentially pushing localized totals toward 30 inches or more.

Latest Global Forecast System (GFS) model showing where more than 2 feet of snow could fall through Monday. (Source: WeatherBELL)

Current models are already showing monster potential, with some high-resolution simulations painting a jackpot zone of more than two feet in southern New Jersey.

History tells us that in generational events like this, there is often one "jackpot spot" that exceeds the surrounding totals by a significant margin due to "dynamic cooling" and extreme moisture intake from the Atlantic.

While 3-foot totals are unlikely, the combination of record-breaking snow rates and high wind gusts could easily lead to drifts exceeding 5 to 6 feet, creating a buried effect for communities in the storm’s direct path.

Predicting the outcome of a major nor'easter or blizzard is often described as one of the most high-stakes impossible tasks in meteorology.

Unlike many other weather events, these coastal monsters thrive on a volatile "diesel engine" of clashing air masses—dry, bitter cold from Canada meeting warm, moisture-rich air from the Gulf Stream.

Because this temperature gradient is so sharp, a storm’s track wobbling by just 30 to 50 miles can be the difference between a city being buried in two feet of monster snow or simply waking up to a cold, dreary rain.

Computer forecast models show various solutions for where the storm's center will track Sunday into Monday.

This sensitivity is why models often disagree until hours before the first flake falls; a minor shift in the upper-level jet stream or a small fluctuation in key ingredients can completely redraw the snow-to-rain battleground.

Even when meteorologists correctly predict that it will snow, determining the exact snow-to-water ratio remains a massive hurdle.

While the general rule is ten inches of snow for every inch of water, reality is rarely that simple. A "wet" storm might produce heavy, slushy snow at a 6:1 ratio, while a colder, drier system could fluff that same moisture into 20 inches of powdery accumulation.

Furthermore, intense nor'easters often develop narrow mesoscale snow bands—sometimes only 5 to 10 miles wide—that can drop 3 inches of snow per hour while a neighboring town sees almost nothing.

This combination of track uncertainty, sneaky warm air, and shifting snow ratios makes every major Northeast blizzard a complex puzzle that keeps forecasters—and residents—on edge until the storm finally clears.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has scheduled an emergency press conference for 1:30 p.m. ET today at the Spring Street Salt Shed to provide critical updates as a historic blizzard begins to bear down on the five boroughs.

With New York City now under its first Blizzard Warning in years and forecasts calling for up to 18 inches of snow, the Mayor is expected to outline the final stages of the city’s mobilization, which already includes 2,000 sanitation workers and 700 salt spreaders standing by for the historic blizzard.

There is a spooky numerical trend that has New York City meteorologists scratching their heads: nearly every all-time record-breaking blizzard in the city has occurred in a year ending in the number 6.

This 10-year interval has turned the mid-winter months of 1996, 2006, and 2016 into legendary milestones for weather enthusiasts and a nightmare for city transit.

As we find ourselves in 2026, the pattern seems to be holding firm as yet another historic bomb cyclone takes aim at the I-95 corridor.

To understand the scale of what is currently brewing, we have to look back at the big three storms that defined the last three decades:

• January 1996 (The Blizzard of '96): This massive nor'easter paralyzed the Eastern Seaboard for nearly a week. Central Park recorded 20.2 inches of snow, while other boroughs saw up to 30 inches. The storm was so intense it forced the New York Stock Exchange to close early and left thousands across the region without electricity or heat for days.

• February 2006: Just 10 years later, a minor affair turned into a record-shattering event. It dumped 26.9 inches on Central Park in a single 16-hour period—the highest total recorded since 1869 at that time. Snow fell at staggering rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour, causing subway delays and cutting bus service in half.

• January 2016 (Snowzilla): Keeping the "sixes" streak alive, the storm became the most significant storm in NYC history. It dropped an all-time record 27.5 inches of snow in Central Park. The storm prompted a total travel ban for all NYC and Long Island roads, proving that even with modern preparation, a 10-year monster storm can still bring the "city that never sleeps" to a complete standstill.

New York City is bracing for 12-18 inches of snow from the historic blizzard Sunday into Monday.

With Blizzard Warnings once again hoisted for the five boroughs this weekend, it appears the "10-year curse" is right on schedule. Whether it's a quirk of atmospheric cycles or just meteorological coincidence, the Northeast is once again bracing for a generational event that could join the ranks of '96, '06, and '16 in the record books.

The latest Fox Weather Model data confirms that this nor'easter is evolving into a formidable wind event, with a bomb cyclone trajectory that will generate punishing gusts across the entire I-95 corridor.

As the storm's central pressure plummets, the tightening pressure gradient will act like an atmospheric vacuum, pulling in ferocious winds that will peak between Sunday night and Monday morning.

According to the current forecast, Nantucket is in the crosshairs for the highest land-based impacts with gusts reaching 60–70 mph, while coastal hubs like New York City, Boston, and Montauk should brace for sustained lashing at 50–60 mph.

Exclusive FOX Weather Model shows the expected peak wind gusts up to 70 mph in the Northeast.

These aren't just nuisance winds; at these speeds, power outages become a near-certainty as frozen, snow-laden tree limbs snap onto utility lines.

Even further inland, cities like Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Washington D.C. will see significant gusts in the 30–40 mph range, which will be enough to create dangerous whiteout conditions as they whip falling snow into a frenzy.

If you have loose outdoor furniture or decorations, now is the time to secure them, as this system packs the mechanical energy of a tropical storm with the added punch of a historic blizzard.

Power outage forecast showing the threat for outages along the I-95 corridor in the Northeast.

Forecasters are sounding the alarm this morning as the combination of extreme wind and heavy, wet snow creates a perfect storm for widespread power outages.

The rapidly intensifying bomb cyclone will produce wind gusts between 50-60 mph along the coast, more than enough to snap frozen tree limbs and down utility lines.

Because the initial wave of precipitation may begin as a heavy, wet "heart-attack" snow, it will likely cling to infrastructure, adding thousands of pounds of weight to the grid before the strongest winds even arrive.

Major providers like National Grid, PECO, and PSEG will likely begin pre-staging lineman today, but once blizzard conditions begin, it will be too dangerous for bucket trucks to operate, meaning any outages that occur Sunday night may not be addressed until the winds subside on Monday.

Major carriers including American, Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue have proactively issued travel waivers for the Northeast as a historic blizzard prepares to slam the I-95 corridor.

These alerts cover a broad range of airports from D.C. to Boston, allowing passengers scheduled to fly on Sunday, February 22, and Monday, February 23, to rebook their flights without paying change fees or fare differences.

With snow rates expected to reach 1-3 inches per hour and dangerous winds winds threatening to ground hundreds of flights, airlines are strongly urging travelers to utilize their mobile apps to move flights to earlier today or after the storm’s peak on Tuesday to avoid being stranded at major hubs like JFK, Newark, and Logan International.

Confidence has officially reached critical mass for a high-impact shutdown snowstorm that is set to paralyze the Northeast corridor starting on Sunday.

This isn't just a standard winter storm; it is a rapidly intensifying bomb cyclone that has triggered Blizzard Warnings for New York City and surrounding communities.

Major transit hubs are already sounding the alarm, with Delta, United, American, Jetblue issuing widespread travel waivers.

With snow rates expected to hit 1-3 inches per hour during the peak of the storm, city officials are warning that plows will likely be unable to keep up, leading to inevitable road closures and a suspension of surface transit across the I-95 corridor through the Monday morning commute.

Exclusive FOX Weather Model shows the raging nor'easter hammering the Northeast on Monday morning.

Just 24 hours ago, the I-95 corridor was looking at a nuisance 1-to-3-inch event. Now, millions are under Blizzard Warnings for up to 24 inches of snow.

This dramatic forecast shift wasn't a mistake—it was the result of a high-stakes "atmospheric merger" that happened faster and closer to the coast than most reliable computer models predicted.

It comes down to three critical factors that redefined this storm in a matter of hours:

• The phasing: This storm is a result of two separate energy systems—one from the Great Lakes and one from the Southeast—phasing or merging together. Earlier this week, models thought they would stay separate, resulting in a weak, disorganized storm. Instead, they synced up like two lanes of highway traffic merging at full speed, creating a massive explosion of atmospheric energy.
• Rapid bombogenesis: The storm will undergo bombogenesis, meaning its central pressure will drop at a rate that qualifies it as a bomb cyclone. This rapid intensification does more than just increase wind; it creates its own cold air through dynamic cooling. This will ensure most of the precipitation that falls is snow.
• The westward nudge: In the world of nor'easters, 50 miles is the difference between a dusting and a disaster. High pressure over eastern Canada will act like a brick wall, shunting the storm’s track further west and hugging the coastline. This will place the heaviest snow bands—which can drop 3 inches of snow per hour—directly over the major metropolitan hubs rather than out to sea.

Most major computer forecast models struggled to resolve the evolution of the nor'easter in recent days. (Source: WeatherBELL)

Throughout the week, the GFS (American) model lived up to its reputation for being the enthusiastic outlier, consistently spitting out eye-popping, monster snow totals of two to three feet for the I-95 corridor.

While these maps went viral on social media, more historically reliable models like the ECMWF (European) and the UKMET remained skeptical, trending much further offshore and suggesting only a glancing blow of light snow.

However, in a dramatic atmospheric U-turn, the reliable models finally caved in the last 24 hours, shifting their tracks westward to align with the GFS's more aggressive solution and turning those crazy predictions into a looming reality for millions in the Northeast.

LEARN

Nor'easter: What causes these powerful storm systems?

Winter is here and so are nor’easters. A nor’easter is a powerful low-pressure system that forms along the East Coast of North America.

Nor'easters are notorious for being forecast killers because the difference between a record-breaking blizzard and a cold rain often hinges on a track shift of just 30 to 50 miles.

These dynamic systems rely on a volatile phasing of energy and rapid pressure drops that can create narrow, intense snow bands, making it nearly impossible to nail down precise totals until hours before the first flakes actually begin to fall.

For the first time in nearly a decade, New York City is officially under a Blizzard Warning, marking a dramatic escalation in the forecast for this weekend's bomb cyclone.

The FOX Forecast Center is now calling for 12-18" of snow for New York City and surrounding areas and says those numbers could go up in the hours before the storm hits.

Latest snow forecast from FOX Weather for the Northeast showing 12-24" of snow through Monday.

While earlier models hinted at a modest event, the latest data has locked in a "worst-case" track that puts the five boroughs, Long Island, and coastal New Jersey directly in the bullseye for 12 to 24 inches of snow.

This isn't just a heavy snow event; it is a true atmospheric "bomb" that will likely paralyze the region through Monday.

With visibility expected to drop to near-zero for several consecutive hours, the city is bracing for its most significant winter impact since the historic 2016 "Snowzilla" storm.

Officials are urging residents to stay off the roads to allow plow crews a fighting chance against the blinding conditions.

From major coastal flooding in Queens to power outage risks across the I-95 corridor, the Northeast is preparing for a generational blizzard that will redefine the 2026 winter season.

Blizzard Warnings are in effect for New York, Long Island, coastal Connecticut, and the Jersey Shore from Sunday to Monday.

History is being written in the snow today as the National Weather Service has officially placed New York City under a Blizzard Warning for the first time since March 2017.

This rare upgrade signals a dangerous shift in the storm’s trajectory, transforming what was initially expected to be a standard nor'easter into a potential "top-five" historic event for the five boroughs.

The warning covers all of NYC, Long Island, and coastal Connecticut, effective from 6:00 a.m. Sunday through 6:00 p.m. Monday, as a rapidly intensifying bomb cyclone prepares to blast the region.

The significance of a Blizzard Warning for New York City cannot be overstated. By definition, a blizzard isn't just about how much snow falls, but the visibility and wind speed. Forecasters are calling for sustained winds of 35 mph with gusts up to 60+ mph, which will combine with snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour to create total whiteout conditions.

With current totals projected between 12 and 18 inches—and snow drifts expected to reach 3 feet—city officials are warning that travel will be "treacherous and life-threatening."

The "blizzard" criteria requires these conditions to last for at least three consecutive hours, a benchmark this storm is expected to shatter Sunday night.

LEARN

Blizzards: What are they and when do they occur?

Blizzards are known to be dangerous winter storms that cause blowing snow and strong winds, resulting in very low visibility. A blizzard is achieved when winds are at 35 mph or higher for three or more hours with visibility less than a quarter of a mile.

Beyond the blinding snow, the storm's "bombing" pressure is expected to drive a significant coastal surge, threatening low-lying areas in Queens and Staten Island with flooding during the Sunday night high-tide cycle.

As the city braces for its first true blizzard in nearly a decade, the message is clear: this is a "major winter storm" that will likely paralyze the tri-state area through Monday.