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East Coast Braces for Bomb‑Cyclone Nor’easter Bringing Up to Two Feet of Snow

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Storm intensifies into a bomb‑cyclone nor’easter A powerful winter system moved off the Atlantic on Sunday, February 22, 2026, rapidly deepening into a bomb cyclone and being labeled a “major nor’easter” by Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Cody Snell [1][2]. The storm is expected to dominate the Mid‑Atlantic and New England through Monday night, delivering heavy, wet snow and gale‑force winds. Blizzard warnings now cover a swath from Delaware to coastal southern New England, marking the first NYC‑proper blizzard warning since 2017 [2].

State and city officials declare emergencies New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a noon‑Sunday emergency order, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared emergencies for 22 of the state’s 62 counties [2]. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker announced a city‑wide snow emergency, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani imposed a travel ban, canceled schools, and opened more than 40 warming centers [1][2]. New Jersey also reduced highway speed limits to 35 mph and signed emergency declarations in five states [1].

Snowfall forecasts predict 1‑2 feet across the region The National Weather Service projects accumulations of over a foot from Philadelphia to Boston, with localized totals approaching two feet, especially east or southeast of I‑95 [1][2]. The heaviest snow is expected to fall on Long Island and coastal Connecticut, potentially delivering the first foot‑plus snowfall in Central Park in over five years [2]. Residents are warned of flooding from rapid melt and heavy, wet snow loads on roofs and trees [1].

Travel disruptions and cleanup operations intensify FlightAware reports more than 3,500 U.S. flight cancellations by Sunday afternoon, while CNN cites over 6,000 cancellations on Sunday and Monday, highlighting a discrepancy in reported numbers [1][2]. NYC’s mayor mobilized additional snow‑clearing crews, outside equipment, and a week‑long effort by Berrington Snow Management, which readied 40 loaders for 24‑ to 36‑hour shifts [1]. Power outages and scattered tree damage are expected as winds exceed 40 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph along the coast [2].

Sources

Timeline

1969 – Former NYC mayor John Lindsay faces political fallout after his perceived mishandling of a major nor’easter, setting a precedent for future mayoral storm responses [2].

2011 – Former mayor Michael Bloomberg endures criticism for his response to the Bermuda blizzard, reinforcing the high political stakes of winter storms in New York [2].

2014 – Former mayor Bill de Blasio sparks controversy over a school‑day decision during a snowstorm, further cementing public expectations for mayoral competence in snow removal [2].

2017 – NYC issues its first blizzard warning for the city proper since this year, highlighting the rarity of such severe winter alerts in the capital [1].

2019 – The city experiences its last “old‑school” snow day before 2026, a benchmark for comparing the upcoming storm’s impact [3].

Jan 23, 2026 – Mayor Zohran Mamdani, one month into office, prepares for a three‑day snowstorm by deploying thousands of sanitation workers, hundreds of snowplows, and about 700 million lb of salt, while warning that a traditional snow day will not occur [2].

Jan 23, 2026 – Former de Blasio spokesperson Eric Phillips cautions that “the public expects mayors to manage operational tasks like snow removal” and reminds that mayors are not “weather gods” [2].

Feb 22, 2026 (morning) – Snow and rain begin across the East Coast, marking the storm’s first impact; blizzard warnings cover NYC, Long Island, Boston and coastal communities, and emergency declarations are signed in NJ, DE, RI, CT, MA and parts of NY [3].

Feb 22, 2026 (morning) – Meteorologist Cody Snell describes the system as “a major winter storm and a major impact for this part of the country,” underscoring its rarity in the Northeast [3].

Feb 22, 2026 (afternoon) – Mayor Mamdani imposes a travel ban, cancels schools and declares the first “old‑school” snow day since 2019, warning of up to two feet of wet, heavy snow and ordering non‑essential traffic off roads from 9 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday [3].

Feb 22, 2026 (evening) – The nor’easter rapidly intensifies off the Eastern Seaboard into a bomb cyclone, bringing blizzard conditions, heavy snow and winds up to 55 mph; emergency declarations are issued in New Jersey, New York (22 counties) and Philadelphia, while NYC opens more than 40 warming centers and expands outreach to homeless residents [1].

Feb 22, 2026 (evening) – Forecasts call for over a foot of snow from Philadelphia to NYC and Boston, with localized accumulations approaching two feet, potentially delivering the first foot‑plus storm in Central Park in over five years; strong winds threaten tree damage, scattered outages and coastal flooding [1].

Feb 22, 2026 (night) – FlightAware reports more than 6,000 flight cancellations across the U.S. on Sunday and Monday, NJ reduces highway speed limits to 35 mph, and snow‑removal firm Berrington Snow Management readies 40 front‑end loaders for a week‑long, 24‑ to 36‑hour shift cleanup on Long Island [3].

Feb 23, 2026 (expected) – The travel ban remains in effect until noon Monday, keeping non‑essential traffic off roads as the city continues snow‑shoveling and cleanup operations [3].

Feb 23‑Mar 1, 2026 (expected) – Berrington Snow Management conducts a week‑long, around‑the‑clock snow‑removal effort on Long Island to clear millions of square feet of asphalt after the storm [3].

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