Top Headlines

Feeds

East Coast Bomb Cyclone Brings Blizzard Warnings, Snowfall Up to 24 Inches Sunday

Updated (102 articles)
  • BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 17: A nearly empty Dartmouth Street as a snow squall blows through on December 17, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Winter storm Gail is expected to bring more than a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
    BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 17: A nearly empty Dartmouth Street as a snow squall blows through on December 17, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Winter storm Gail is expected to bring more than a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 17: A nearly empty Dartmouth Street as a snow squall blows through on December 17, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Winter storm Gail is expected to bring more than a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Commuters walk over berms of snow created by snow plows to board their bus in the New York City Borough of Queens, NY, January 26, 2026. New York City and it’s five boroughs saw more than 10 inches of snow fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour with freezing gusts of wind after a massive winter storm blanketed the US East Coast. (Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
    Commuters walk over berms of snow created by snow plows to board their bus in the New York City Borough of Queens, NY, January 26, 2026. New York City and it’s five boroughs saw more than 10 inches of snow fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour with freezing gusts of wind after a massive winter storm blanketed the US East Coast. (Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Commuters walk over berms of snow created by snow plows to board their bus in the New York City Borough of Queens, NY, January 26, 2026. New York City and it’s five boroughs saw more than 10 inches of snow fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour with freezing gusts of wind after a massive winter storm blanketed the US East Coast. (Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images) Source Full size
  • None
    None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • Commuters walk over berms of snow created by snow plows to board their bus in the New York City Borough of Queens, NY, January 26, 2026. New York City and it’s five boroughs saw more than 10 inches of snow fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour with freezing gusts of wind after a massive winter storm blanketed the US East Coast. (Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
    Commuters walk over berms of snow created by snow plows to board their bus in the New York City Borough of Queens, NY, January 26, 2026. New York City and it’s five boroughs saw more than 10 inches of snow fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour with freezing gusts of wind after a massive winter storm blanketed the US East Coast. (Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Commuters walk over berms of snow created by snow plows to board their bus in the New York City Borough of Queens, NY, January 26, 2026. New York City and it’s five boroughs saw more than 10 inches of snow fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour with freezing gusts of wind after a massive winter storm blanketed the US East Coast. (Photo by Anthony Behar/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images) Source Full size
  • BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 17: A nearly empty Dartmouth Street as a snow squall blows through on December 17, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Winter storm Gail is expected to bring more than a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
    BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 17: A nearly empty Dartmouth Street as a snow squall blows through on December 17, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Winter storm Gail is expected to bring more than a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 17: A nearly empty Dartmouth Street as a snow squall blows through on December 17, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Winter storm Gail is expected to bring more than a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • None
    None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size

Storm Intensifies Into Bomb Cyclone With Blizzard Warnings Across Northeast Rapidly deepening low‑pressure system will become a bomb cyclone off the Atlantic coast Sunday, prompting blizzard warnings for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with additional alerts for Long Island, Boston and coastal Delaware [1][2][3]. Meteorologists upgraded the forecast from milder expectations after model runs showed a sharper pressure drop and stronger onshore flow [1][4]. The National Weather Service expects wind gusts of 40‑70 mph, creating white‑out conditions and hazardous travel throughout the region [2][3].

Snowfall Forecast Ranges From One to Two Feet, Up to 24 Inches Near I‑95 The Weather Prediction Center projects 12‑24 inches of snow east or southeast of Interstate 95, while most interior areas should receive at least a foot, with rates of 1‑2 inches per hour during the night‑time peak [1][3][4]. Snow accumulation will begin Sunday morning in Washington, move through Philadelphia and New York City, and reach Boston by evening, then taper off by Monday afternoon [1]. Model consensus has shifted toward heavier snow and stronger winds over the past 24 hours, raising the bomb‑cyclone potential along the shoreline [4].

Governors Declare Emergencies and Deploy Guard Units Ahead of Impact New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill each issued states of emergency, citing expected 12‑18 inches of snow and the need to protect vulnerable populations [2]. Hochul activated 100 National Guard members for staging across Long Island, New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley, while local officials echoed the emergency directives [2][3]. Authorities urged residents to stock three days of supplies and limit travel as power outages are likely from wind‑driven, wet snow [2].

City of New York Mobilizes Equipment, Alerts, and Hotline Services Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the deployment of additional snow‑clearing equipment from outside the city and expanded use of geocoding to prioritize bus stops and crosswalks for clearance [1]. The mayor also posted a text‑alert line (“NotifyNYC” to 629‑629) and reminded citizens to call 311 for assistance, especially for vulnerable individuals [2]. Schools remain undecided on closures, while private firms prepared front‑end loaders for a week‑long cleanup effort [1].

High Winds and Coastal Flooding Threaten Power Outages and Travel Steady winds of 25‑35 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph in some forecasts, will combine with heavy, wet snow to snap tree limbs and cause widespread power outages [1][3]. Onshore winds are expected to push ocean water onto shorelines, creating moderate to locally major flooding from Delaware through Long Island and southern New England, with the surge coinciding with the high tide late Sunday night [3][4]. Airports in New York, Philadelphia and Boston face dangerous or impossible travel conditions during the peak Sunday‑night to Monday‑morning window [3].

Sources

Timeline

Dec 11, 2025 – The National Weather Service issues winter‑storm alerts for 13 states, forecasting up to 5 inches of snow in Buffalo, NY, and warning of severe icing that could delay flights [24].

Dec 15, 2025 – The first significant snowfall of the season blankets the New York‑New Jersey metro with several inches, while an Arctic air surge drives Midwest temperatures below ‑20 °F, prompting road‑speed reductions and over 1,000 flight delays [23].

Dec 19, 2025 – Severe thunderstorm warnings cover more than 13 million people in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with wind gusts of 60‑70 mph and rare December tornado threats, urging residents to seek interior shelter [22].

Dec 25, 2025 – A Northeast snowstorm watch predicts up to 10 inches of snow from Friday afternoon to Saturday, and Governor Kathy Hochul urges residents to “monitor local forecasts and enroll in alerts” ahead of the holiday weekend [21].

Dec 27, 2025 – A winter storm disrupts holiday travel across the Northeast and Great Lakes, dumping ≈4 inches of snow in New York City, canceling ≈1,500 flights, and prompting emergency declarations in New York and New Jersey [20][30].

Dec 28, 2025 – Governor Hochul declares a state of emergency in more than half of New York’s counties as Central Park records 4.3 inches of snow, flights exceed 900 cancellations, and Code Blue activates to shelter the homeless [3].

Jan 5, 2026 – The NWS expands winter‑storm warnings for Alaska, Michigan, California and Utah, projecting up to 18 inches of snow and gusts of 35‑40 mph, and urges travelers to delay trips and carry emergency supplies [19].

Jan 6, 2026 – A Winter Storm Warning for the Cascades predicts 2‑4 feet of mountain snow, wind gusts up to 35 mph, and “considerable” avalanche danger above 5,500 ft, prompting travel advisories and power‑outage warnings [29].

Jan 17, 2026 – Lake‑effect snow warnings cover northern Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Alaska, forecasting up to 6 inches locally and urging residents to avoid travel and prepare for possible outages [18].

Jan 19, 2026 – The NWS issues a snow‑squall warning for over 1 million Pennsylvanians, describing white‑out conditions that can appear within minutes and urging drivers to delay travel or pull off the highway [17].

Jan 20, 2026 – Forecasters warn that a mixed‑precipitation storm will sweep from Texas to the Carolinas, with a “sub‑zero Arctic air mass” meeting Gulf moisture, potentially delivering ≥4 inches of snow and ¼‑inch of ice along I‑20/I‑40 [27].

Jan 21, 2026 – Texas officials label the approaching system the “first substantial winter weather event of the season,” with up to 10 inches of snow/ice and single‑digit wind chills, while Governor Greg Abbott assures “no expectation whatsoever” of a grid failure [15].

Jan 21, 2026 – The Weather Prediction Center updates its forecast, expanding the storm’s northern reach and describing it as “plan‑changing” with Stephanie Abrams noting its stretch from Texas to the I‑95 corridor [16].

Jan 23, 2026 – DHS advises FEMA to avoid the word “ice” in public alerts to prevent meme‑driven confusion, sparking a brief dispute over messaging language [12].

Jan 23, 2026 – WCNC chief meteorologist Brad Panovich warns that the upcoming ice storm could “match or exceed” the 2002 event, urging residents to stock supplies, charge devices, and stay off roads [13].

Jan 23, 2026 – Broad NWS warnings forecast up to 17 inches of snow in western Pennsylvania and heavy lake‑effect bands, warning that travel could become “nearly impossible” and power outages may follow [14].

Jan 23, 2026 – A massive winter system spanning Texas to New England threatens half the U.S., with 177 million under ice/snow warnings, “damage comparable to a hurricane,” and Arctic air driving wind chills below ‑40 °F in the Midwest [26].

Jan 24, 2026 – The NWS labels the approaching storm “extremely dangerous,” projecting over 200 million Americans under ice‑and‑snow watches, sub‑zero wind chills, and governors in 16 states declaring emergencies; NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani deploys 2,200 plows and 700 salt spreaders, while Rich Otto warns travel could be “nearly impossible during the peak of the storm” [1].

Jan 24, 2026 – Travel advisories urge millions to avoid roads as ice‑storm warnings cover the Carolinas and Georgia, with NWS officials stressing life‑threatening conditions and recommending emergency kits in vehicles [11].

Jan 25, 2026 – Nationwide alerts cover over 180 million people with ice‑and‑snow watches and more than 210 million with cold‑weather advisories, prompting states to activate emergency plans and issue extensive safety resources [10].

Jan 25, 2026 – A historic winter storm delivers 6‑12 inches of snow and record‑breaking cold across the Plains to the Northeast, while power‑outage trackers record hundreds of thousands without electricity [8].

Jan 25, 2026 – AP photo‑gallery images capture the monster storm’s impact from Texas to the Midwest, showing residents torch‑thawing frozen doors, airports de‑icing planes, and shelves emptied of water in Pittsburgh [9].

Jan 26, 2026 – The storm sweeps the U.S. and southern Canada, breaking snowfall records (e.g., 11.4 inches in Central Park, 18 inches at Toronto Pearson), causing ≥20 deaths, canceling >6,000 flights, and prompting the NWS to warn of another major winter storm arriving Friday [2].

Feb 4, 2026 – The NWS issues winter‑weather warnings for up to 7 inches of snow across New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Alaska, emphasizing hazardous morning commutes and the risk of freezing‑rain‑induced outages [6].

Feb 20, 2026 – Forecast models converge on a potent East‑Coast storm for Sunday, with scenarios ranging from moderate coastal snow to a widespread ≥6‑inch blizzard; bomb‑cyclone potential rises as the system tracks closer to shore [5].

Feb 21, 2026 – A nor’easter intensifies into a bomb cyclone off the coast, delivering blizzard conditions and the first NYC blizzard warning since 2017; officials expect 12‑24 inches of snow, 40‑55 mph winds, travel impossibility, and coastal flooding coinciding with high tide [4].

Social media (18 posts)

Dive deeper (19 sub-stories)

All related articles (102 articles)

External resources (96 links)