Live updates: Monster blizzard 'bomb' paralyzes Northeast in extreme snow, soaring power outages
With Blizzard Warnings covering over 40 million people, major hubs like New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia have shut down as up to two feet of snow buries the I-95 corridor in Blizzard '26. Stay tuned for updates on power outages, mandatory travel bans, flight cancellations, and emergency declarations.
- Blizzard Warnings in effect: Warnings cover major hubs including New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston, affecting more than 40 million people. This is the first blizzard warning for NYC since 2017.
- Extreme snow totals: Widespread accumulations of 12 to 24 inches are expected across the I-95 corridor. Heavy snow rates are occasionally reaching 2 to 3 inches per hour.
- Life-threatening conditions: Wind gusts of 50 to 70 mph are creating whiteout conditions and near-zero visibility.
- Travel bans active: New York City's citywide travel ban is in effect until noon today, closing all streets, highways, and bridges to non-emergency traffic. Similar bans or restrictions are active in Rhode Island and New Jersey.
- Aviation standstill: Over 10,000 flights have been canceled through Tuesday. Hubs like LGA are seeing cancellation rates over 90% for Monday.
- Widespread power outages: The combination of heavy, wet snow and high winds has already begun causing numerous outages, particularly along the coast from Delaware to Boston.
- States of Emergency: Governors in seven states have declared emergencies, urging residents to stay home until conditions improve.
A life-threatening blizzard is blasting millions across the Northeast with heavy snow and intense wind.
The usually bustling streets of the Upper East Side have turned into a silent ghost town as the citywide travel ban keeps all non-essential vehicles off the roads through noon today.
With visibility near zero and Central Park recording more than 15 inches of snow so far, the neighborhood’s residential avenues are now dominated by massive drifts and the quiet hum of the occasional plow.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley are currently getting slammed by the storm's "deformation band"—a classic feature of powerful nor'easters that is dumping exceptionally heavy snow.
Radar shows the intense deformation snow band stretching from the Hudson Valley to New York City.
This distinct band, clearly visible on radar, is responsible for the intense snow rates and localized whiteout conditions currently occurring across the region.
Latest power outage tracker showing thousands of customers without power in the Northeast.
Power outages are surging to critical levels, with 484,201 total U.S. customers now in the dark as the massive blizzard 'bombs' the Northeast.
FOX Weather has seen a significant jump in just the last few hours, as hurricane-force wind gusts—including a peak of 74 mph in Stony Brook, New York—continue to snap utility lines across the region.
According to the latest data from PowerOutage.com, Massachusetts and New Jersey remain the hardest-hit states, with 146,000 and 122,000 outages respectively, while Delaware and Maryland are also seeing major disruptions with tens of thousands of homes without electricity.
Restoration efforts are expected to be slow and dangerous; utility crews cannot safely deploy bucket trucks until these high winds subside, meaning many residents should prepare for a multi-day wait for the lights to come back on.
EarthCam camera in Times Square showing empty streets as a citywide travel ban remains in place for New York City.
New York City is currently in the grip of a historic winter event, with Central Park recording 15.1 inches of snow and totals still climbing.
This marks the city's most significant snowstorm since 17.2" fell in February 2021.
The storm, which intensified into a powerful nor'easter, has triggered the city's first Blizzard Warning in nine years.
With snow rates hitting 2 to 3 inches per hour, the impact on the five boroughs has been immediate and severe.
A mandatory citywide travel ban remains in effect to keep non-essential vehicles off the streets, allowing more than 2,300 plows to work through near-whiteout conditions.
Wind gusts have reached as high as 60 mph at JFK International Airport, contributing to widespread visibility issues and making any movement outside life-threatening.
While the heaviest bands are expected to move out by Monday afternoon, officials warn that a "brutal cleanup" lies ahead. Residents are urged to stay indoors and off the roads until the travel ban is lifted. Property owners should also be prepared for their own work; city rules require sidewalks to be cleared within four hours if the snow stops during daylight.
Latest snow reports from around New York City and Long Island (as of 7am ET).
Major reporting sites from New York City and Long Island are now reporting nearly two feet of snow as snow rates 2-3 inches per hour hammer the region.
Newark, New Jersey, has officially recorded 18.3 inches of snow as the historic bomb cyclone delivers one of the most significant winter weather events the city has seen in years.
The FOX Forecast Center says the city is experiencing snow rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour right now.
Central Park has officially recorded 15.1 inches of snow as the historic nor'easter continues to bury Manhattan. This significant total marks one of the city's most substantial snow events in years, contributing to the treacherous conditions that have triggered a citywide travel ban through noon.
As the sun rises over the East Coast, satellite imagery is providing a breathtaking and sobering look at the true scale of the nor’easter currently paralyzing the region. The "eye" of this massive bomb cyclone is clearly visible churning off the coast, with its spiral bands of heavy snow and hurricane-force winds stretching from the Mid-Atlantic all the way into Maine.
Satellite image showing the immense, intense nor'easter lashing the Northeast U.S.
The satellite view captures the classic "comma" shape of a rapidly intensifying storm, a visual testament to the extreme pressure drop that has fueled this blizzard.
From space, the cloud tops are exceptionally high and cold, indicating the prolific moisture that has already dumped over 20 inches of snow in parts of New Jersey and Long Island. As the storm continues to track northeast, this perspective highlights the immense reach of the wind field that is currently leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without power.
Providence, Rhode Island, is experiencing staggering snow rates as the National Weather Service reports 13.9 inches fell in just a six-hour window this morning. This rapid accumulation has pushed the city's storm total to 16.3 inches so far, with additional heavy bands expected to continue through midday.
Current radar and wind gusts showing the intensity of the storm over Massachusetts.
The historic Blizzard of 2026 is reaching its peak intensity off the coast of New England, with hurricane-force wind gusts and extreme snow rates paralyzing much of Massachusetts.
The FOX Forecast Center has confirmed that hurricane-force gusts are occurring and are likely to continue into the afternoon as the storm's central pressure drops even further.
Latest top snow reports from FOX Weather.
The town of Freehold, New Jersey, has officially shattered the 20-inch mark, recording a massive 22.2 inches of snow as of Monday morning.
This updated total places Freehold among the highest recorded accumulations in the region, surpassing many early projections and highlighting the sheer power of the stationary snow bands that have hammered central New Jersey.
As the bomb cyclone continues to churn offshore, residents in Monmouth County are facing extreme whiteout conditions and massive drifts, making any attempt at travel life-threatening.
With Blizzard Warnings still in effect, officials are urging everyone to stay hunkered down as crews struggle to keep pace with these historic snow rates.
Hurricane-force winds have now been recorded as the blizzard blasts the Northeast.
The bomb cyclone has officially delivered hurricane-force wind gusts to Long Island, with Stony Brook, New York, recording a top gust of 74 mph this morning. This major reading places Stony Brook among the hardest-hit areas in the region as the storm continues to intensify offshore.
Latest power outage tracker showing more than 400,000 customers without power in the Northeast.
More than 400,000 customers are now without power across the Northeast.
Data from PowerOutage.com indicates that as the storm's core moves through the region, the combination of near-hurricane-force wind gusts and heavy, wet snow is overwhelming the grid.
Restoring power will likely be a slow, multi-day process. Utility officials in Connecticut have warned that full restoration could take anywhere from four to six days. High winds are currently preventing crews from using bucket trucks for safety reasons, meaning repairs in many areas cannot begin in earnest until the storm subsides on Tuesday.
Latest top snow reports from the monster blizzard blasting the Northeast.
The town of Islip, New York, has officially recorded a massive 20.0 inches of snow as the historic bomb cyclone continues its relentless assault on the region.
This milestone represents one of the highest totals reported on Long Island so far, as intense bands of snow have been dumping accumulation at rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour throughout the morning.
The 20-inch report in Islip aligns with broader forecasts that predicted up to two feet of snow for the area. Residents across Suffolk County are facing extreme whiteout conditions and life-threatening travel, with all non-essential driving currently prohibited under a local travel ban.
EarthCam camera showing a snow-covered Times Square in Midtown Manhattan.
An EarthCam view of Times Square this morning reveals a rare sight: one of the world's busiest intersections is virtually a ghost town. Under the mandatory citywide travel ban, the neon-lit streets are completely empty of cars and tourists, leaving only a dedicated team of emergency snow shovelers visible as they work tirelessly to clear the mounting accumulation.
Latest power outage tracker showing widespread outages throughout the Northeast.
The bomb cyclone slamming the East Coast has officially knocked out power to nearly 300,000 customers across the Northeast.
Data from PowerOutage.us indicates that as of 6:00 a.m. ET, the bulk of these outages are concentrated in New Jersey and Delaware, where a combination of heavy snow load and fierce winds is snapping tree limbs and utility lines.
- New Jersey: Remains the epicenter of the crisis with over 115,000 customers in the dark. In Ocean County alone, more than 13% of the population has lost power as 70 mph gusts lash the coast.
- Delaware: Outages have climbed to nearly 72,000, with the Delaware Electric Coop reporting that almost 42% of its customer base is currently without electricity.
- Massachusetts: Outages are skyrocketing as the blizzard blasts the state. More than 60,000 customers are now in the dark.
NJ Transit website showing the systemwide service suspension as of 5:45 a.m. ET Monday.
All NJ Transit services remain under a full systemwide suspension this morning as the historic bomb cyclone continues to batter the state with extreme snow and high winds. This total shutdown includes all bus, rail, light rail, and Access Link operations.
While some service began tapering off early Sunday evening, the final rail trips concluded by 9:00 p.m. to ensure the safety of both passengers and employees during the peak of the storm.
NJ Transit officials and the Emergency Operations Center are currently monitoring weather conditions and assessing the storm's impact on tracks, overhead wires, and roads.
- Ongoing assessment: Officials will continue to evaluate the system throughout the morning to determine when it is safe to begin a gradual resumption of service.
- Snow-fighting operations: Even while service is suspended, you may see empty trains or light rail vehicles moving; these are being operated specifically to keep tracks and overhead wires clear of heavy snow and ice buildup.
- Travel advice: Governor Sherrill has urged residents to stay off the roads, which must remain clear for local and state snow removal crews to work efficiently.
Lewes, Delaware, has reported a significant 18.0 inches of snow as the historic blizzard continues to lash the coast with near-whiteout conditions. This total reaches the high end of local forecasts, with heavy snow bands still expected to drop additional accumulation through the morning hours.
Freehold, New Jersey, has just reported a massive 19.0 inches of snow as the heart of the bomb cyclone delivers some of its highest totals yet.
This major measurement highlights the extreme accumulation occurring across central New Jersey, where intense snow bands have been stationary for several hours.
Radar analysis shows heavy snow and blizzard conditions from Massachusetts to New York this morning.
If you thought it couldn't get more intense, the storm is proving us wrong. Forecasters are seeing widespread snow rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour that are expected to hammer Long Island and Southern New England through at least 10:00 a.m. ET.
While the snow was previously hitting in scattered bands, the storm is now consolidating into one massive primary band that stretches from Long Island all the way to Eastern Massachusetts.
This is the absolute peak of the event—driven by an impressive surge of moisture (what meteorologists call the warm conveyor) colliding with the freezing core of the storm.
New York City remains at a standstill this morning as a mandatory citywide travel ban continues to hold all non-essential vehicles off the streets.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's emergency order, which began at 9:00 p.m. Sunday, is designed to keep roads clear for emergency responders and the city's massive fleet of 2,300 snowplows as they battle the most significant blizzard to hit the five boroughs since 2017.
- Duration: The ban is strictly in effect until 12:00 p.m. today.
- Scope: All city streets, highways, bridges, and tunnels are closed to non-emergency vehicular traffic.
- Who can drive: Only essential workers (medical personnel, first responders, utility crews) and those traveling for a documented emergency are permitted on the roads.
- Penalties: Vehicles found on the roads in violation of the ban are subject to fines and immediate towing to ensure they do not block plowing operations.
- Public Transit: While the travel ban applies to cars, scooters, and e-bikes, most subway lines continue to operate—though many have switched from express to local service.
The bomb cyclone currently offshore is unleashing ferocious winds across the Northeast, with several coastal communities reporting gusts reaching or exceeding 70 mph. These powerful gales are the primary driver behind the widespread whiteout conditions and surging power outages currently paralyzing the region.
Data from the FOX Forecast Center highlights the extreme intensity of the wind field as the storm's pressure continues to bottom out:
- Bellefonte, DE: Leading the region with a staggering 72 mph gust—just shy of the official hurricane-strength threshold (>74 mph).
- Keyport, NJ: Recording a peak gust of 67 mph.
- Barnegat Inlet, NJ: Seeing consistent lashing with gusts up to 66 mph.
- Stony Brook, NY: Clocking in at 63 mph as the storm core moves past Long Island.
- Atlantic City, NJ: Recording 60 mph gusts alongside heavy coastal flooding and snow.
Peak wind gusts from the nor'easter have topped 70 mph in some places along the East Coast.
These winds are expected to remain intense for several more hours, making travel dangerous and posing a severe threat to standing trees and power lines. Residents are urged to stay away from windows and remain indoors until winds subside later today.
As the nor'easter hammers New York City with snow rates reaching up to 2 to 3 inches per hour, the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has moved into a full-force, around-the-clock operation. To keep up with the rapidly accumulating snow, the city has deployed more than 2,600 sanitation workers on successive 12-hour shifts.
The scale of the deployment is historic, matching the intensity of the first Blizzard Warning issued for the city in nine years:
- Plows and spreading: Over 2,300 plows are currently active across the five boroughs, accompanied by a fleet of 700 salt spreaders.
- New technology: For this storm, DSNY is utilizing expanded geocoded tracking to more efficiently clear critical pedestrian infrastructure, including bus stops, crosswalks, and fire hydrants.
- Real-time tracking: Residents can monitor the progress of these crews block-by-block through the city's PlowNYC portal.
- Emergency support: The city has also activated over 1,000 emergency snow shovelers—a significantly earlier and larger deployment than in previous storms—to assist in clearing key public areas.
While the city’s travel ban remains in effect until noon today to allow "New York's Strongest" to work safely, officials are reminding property owners of their responsibilities. Once the snow stops, a path of at least 4 feet must be cleared on all sidewalks to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. Additionally, due to the all-hands-on-deck snow response, trash and recycling collection will be delayed by at least one day.
Radar showing the intense mesoscale band of heavy snow hammering parts of New Jersey.
A powerful mesoscale snow band is currently locked in over Jersey City, Hoboken, and Newark, delivering some of the most intense snow rates seen yet during this bomb cyclone. While much of the region is seeing steady snow, this specific band is producing localized rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, causing visibility to drop to near zero across Hudson and Essex counties.
The impact of this relentless hammering is already reflected in the numbers, with Newark reporting a staggering 11.1 inches as of 5:00 a.m.. Residents just west of the Hudson River should prepare for conditions to remain life-threatening through the morning, as these stationary bands can easily bury neighborhoods under an additional half-foot of snow in just a few hours.
Use this handy guide to accurately measure snow during and after the blizzard.
As the blizzard buries the Northeast in what could be record-breaking totals, many residents are reaching for their yardsticks.
However, getting an accurate reading in a high-wind event like this can be tricky due to significant drifting.
To ensure your reports are useful for meteorologists, follow these official measurement steps:
- Choose the right spot: Select an open, level area clear of obstructions and drifts. Ideally, place a "snowboard" or a flat, white surface down before the snow begins.
- Measure from the ground up: Use a ruler or yardstick to measure the depth from the board (or ground) base to the top of the newly fallen snow.
- Clear the board periodically: For long-duration events like this one, clear your measurement board every 6 hours. This prevents the weight of the snow from compacting the layers, which can lead to undercounting the total.
- Take an average: Don't rely on just one spot. Measure in several representative locations and calculate the average for the most accurate total.
- Avoid drifts: Stay away from areas where the 60-70 mph wind has piled snow up against fences or houses, as well as scoured areas where the ground is bare.
Latest snow reports from the New York City metro area show the city is closing in on the one foot mark.
The early morning snow reports are in, and they confirm that the New York City metro area is rapidly approaching the one-foot mark.
Newark, NJ has already crossed that threshold with 11.1 inches on the ground, while Islip and JFK are following closely behind at 9.5 inches and 9.3 inches respectively.
Even Central Park (NYC) has officially recorded 7.8 inches, with totals expected to climb as the storm's core moves through.
Current radar analysis from the FOX Forecast Center shows 1 to 2-inch-per-hour snow rates are ongoing across the region.
These intense bands are creating a high risk for full blizzard conditions over the next few hours, particularly for coastal areas and the immediate NYC metro, as the "bomb cyclone" continues to intensify.
FlightAware MiseryMap showing the total flight disruptions throughout the Northeast today.
The historic "bomb cyclone" has officially triggered a national travel nightmare, with flight disruptions now surpassing the 18,000 mark through Tuesday.
According to the latest data from FlightAware, the storm has forced the cancellation of more than 10,000 flights, while an additional 8,000 have faced significant delays as the blizzard paralyzes the Northeast corridor.
The grounding is most severe at the primary entry points to the region, where airlines have preemptively cleared their schedules to avoid stranding aircraft in the path of the storm. Most of the flights at LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, and Boston have been canceled for today.
Power outages continue to skyrocket throughout the Northeast as the blizzard 'bombs out' offshore. (PowerOutage.com)
The historic blizzard is currently overwhelming the power grid, with regional outages officially surpassing the 250,000 mark as of Monday morning. The combination of 70 mph wind gusts and heavy, wet snow is snapping utility lines and downing trees across the I-95 corridor.
- New Jersey: Remains the hardest-hit state with over 100,000 customers in the dark. Ocean County is facing the most severe impact, with more than 11% of the county currently without power.
- Delaware: Outages have climbed to nearly 68,000, with the Delaware Electric Coop reporting nearly 40% of its customers affected.
- Virginia and Maryland: Both states are seeing roughly 25,000 outages each as the storm's core moves through the Mid-Atlantic.
- Connecticut: Governor Ned Lamont has warned that "several hundred thousand" residents could eventually lose power, with restorations potentially taking four to six days due to the severity of the damage.
Because travel is currently dangerous and travel bans are in place across parts of the region, repair crews are facing significant delays in reaching downed lines until the wind and snow subside later today.
Don't miss out: you can go back and see LIVE updates from Sunday's coverage of this historic blizzard.
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