Powerful nor'easter bomb cyclone to slam Northeast cities with biggest snowstorm in years, dumping over a foot
Snow totals Sunday night into Monday could top 12-18 inches in New York City and Boston during this storm, while Philadelphia is forecast to get between 8-12 inches.
Blizzard warnings expand as powerful nor'easter looms
A powerful nor'easter is set to bring blizzard conditions from the Jersey Shore to Boston as heavy snow, powerful winds and coastal flooding all loom with this storm. FOX Weather has the latest forecast to keep you in the know for what's ahead:
Millions along the Interstate 95 corridor in the Northeast are bracing for impacts from a powerful nor'easter bomb cyclone that will dump significant snowfall across much of the region starting Sunday.
Snow forecasts have increased yet again, now making the brewing storm one of the biggest snowstorm threats in years for major Northeast cities like New York City.
The storm will start to come together on Sunday afternoon as an area of low pressure rapidly strengthens as it moves off the coast of North Carolina.
NOR'EASTER STORM TRACKER: LIVE RADAR, SNOW FORECAST, WINTER ALERTS WIND GUSTS AND MORE
Forecast data shows the nor'easter tracking dangerously close to the East Coast, delivering heavy snow from Virginia to Maine starting Sunday evening.
(FOX Weather)
The critical combination of heavy snow and powerful winds are expected to lead to severe blizzard conditions across southeast New England.
For the first time in nearly a decade, New York City will be under a blizzard warning. The warning will begin Sunday night for a very high-impact event. Wind gusts up to 55 mph are now possible within the city. The warnings have been extended down the New Jersey shore as well.
Boston and the entire state of Rhode Island are also included in a Blizzard Warning.
Snow totals Sunday night into Monday could top 18–24 inches in New York City, Philadelphia and Boston during this storm
The further inland, the less snow there will be, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Here’s the latest on the snow:
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 20, 2026
We’re expecting 6–8 inches on Sunday and another 1–3 inches Monday.
Starting Saturday, we begin pre-snow operations — mounting plows, loading salt spreaders, and preparing our crews. New York City Department of Sanitation will move to 12-hour… https://t.co/Ru5J7BOX8S
WINTER STORM WARNINGS: WHAT DO THEY MEAN FOR ME?
Snow between over 2 feet of snow is forecast along the Jersey Shore, and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a State of Emergency beginning Sunday at noon.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul followed suit and declared a State of Emergency for 22 counties in New York starting Sunday morning.
Baltimore, is expected to see 8–12 inches through Monday.
For Washington, D.C. the forecast remains highly uncertain.
For now, Washington, D.C. is expected to see 5-18 inches.
A family walks in the snow near the National Mall in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2026.
(Amid FARAHI / Getty Images)
AIRLINES ROLL OUT TRAVEL WAIVERS AHEAD OF THE STORM
The nor'easter will deliver heavy snow into the Northeast and impact major transit hubs. Days out from the arrival of the storm, travel agencies are beginning to prepare for the effects of the likely crippling levels of snow.
In a post on X, Amtrak Northeast wrote, "We are closely monitoring the path of inclement weather along the northeast corridor. Depending on the path of the storm, service adjustments may be necessary."
(FOX Weather)
Looking to skip out on a travel headache? Airlines are also getting ahead of the storm. Jetblue, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United have announced they will offer travel waivers due to the brewing storm across a majority of Northeast major flight hubs.
With air and rail travel severely impacted across the region, road crews and neighborhood kids will be busy plowing streets and shoveling driveways across the Northeast. Several major highways, including portions of I-95, and local roads will be covered in snow, crippling travel late Sunday and into the work week.
BOMBING NOR'EASTER
In addition to classic nor'easter traits, this storm will also go through bombogenesis, where the central pressure of a storm drops 24 millibars in 24 hours.
By then, the storm will have the characteristics of a bomb cyclone and a nor'easter.
(FOX Weather)
WINTER STORM WARNING EXPLAINED: WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND WHEN IS IT ISSUED?
Monday will see conditions quickly deteriorate across New England as classic, severe Nor'easter conditions set in with heavy snow and powerful winds.
(FOX Weather)
Blizzard conditions will be highly possible across southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Widespread power outages will be possible from the winds, which could violently gust as high as 70 mph.
The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring the chances of blizzard conditions along the East Coast, all the way from Cape May, New Jersey through Boston.
A blizzard is a severe winter storm packing sustained winds of 35 mph with visibility of less than 1/4 mile lasting at least three hours.
FILE: People shovel snow as a powerful nor'easter and winter storm slam Sussex, New Jersey on January 07, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Cities are bracing for impacts, as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday that city sanitation crews were preparing ahead of the storm.
"If you can, give yourself extra time to travel, check in on neighbors—especially seniors—and take it slow out there," the mayor wrote on social media.
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A person walks through a snow-covered Central Park in New York City on December 27, 2025.
(TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFPv / Getty Images)
The FOX Forecast Center said as the pressure gradient tightens around the strengthening low, a persistent fetch of strong northeasterly winds will continue to drive water shoreward.
This dangerous storm surge will elevate water levels, leading to minor to moderate flooding during high tide, especially in eastern Massachusetts.
Powerful waves generated by the intense winds will batter the shorelines, leading to significant beach erosion as far south as the Outer Banks in North Carolina, which has an ongoing issue of home collapses along beachfronts due to erosion.
Coastal flood warnings are in effect for coastal areas from Delaware to Maine beginning Sunday night and lasting until Tuesday.
(FOX Weather)
Snow in New York City and areas westward will see an end to the snow during the day on Monday.
Snow will continue to impact Long Island up through Maine through Monday night.
By Tuesday morning, snow will be over for everyone in the Northeast, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
Stay with FOX Weather all weekend long for live coverage tracking this brewing threat for millions.