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Feb. 23 Superbomb Nor'easter Dumps Record Snow Across New England

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Historic Bomb Cyclone Hits New England on Feb. 23 The nor’easter intensified into a bomb cyclone, delivering nearly three feet of snow and producing rare thundersnow and lightning, while central pressure fell to 966 mb, comparable to a Category 2 hurricane, and wind gusts reached 83 mph on Nantucket [1]. Meteorologists labeled it a “superbomb” due to its unprecedented intensity for the past decade [1].

Temperature and Moisture Combo Maximized Snowfall Owen Shieh of the National Weather Service explained that the storm’s temperature hovered in the “Goldilocks” range for wet, heavy snow, and Jeff Masters noted the storm’s track funneled abundant Atlantic moisture, together amplifying snowfall totals [1]. This perfect alignment of thermal and moisture conditions is cited as a key factor behind the extreme accumulation [1].

Record Snowfall Totals Shatter Decades‑Old Benchmarks Providence recorded 33.5 inches by midday, surpassing its 1978 record, while Warwick logged 36.2 inches; at least 19 stations across five states measured two feet or more, with Central Park at 19.1 inches and Philadelphia at 14 inches [1]. These figures represent the highest single‑event snowfall totals in many of the affected locations in the last ten years [1].

Climate Research Links Intensifying Nor'easters to Warming A recent MIT‑led study found the most intense nor’easters are becoming significantly stronger as the climate warms, and researcher Judah Cohen connected this storm to a stretched polar vortex pattern that is increasing with Arctic warming [1]. The analysis suggests future storms could match or exceed this event’s severity if warming trends continue [1].

Public and Media React to Thundersnow Spectacle Jim Cantore reported live as lightning struck nearby, and meteorologist Matthew Cappucci praised the thundersnow on social media, highlighting the rarity of such phenomena in winter storms [1]. Viewers and online audiences responded with heightened interest, underscoring the storm’s visual impact [1].

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Timeline

Jan 4, 2026 – Monitoring stations in North Platte, Valentine, Broken Bow and Imperial each break their daily January maximums, with North Platte and Broken Bow hitting 71 °F, Imperial 70 °F and Valentine 67 °F, surpassing records set in 1989, 1898, 1956 and 1935 respectively[1].

Jan 4, 2026 – The National Weather Service (NWS) North Platte office forecasts a mild Saturday and warns that the unprecedented warmth “could lead to near‑critical fire concerns” across western Nebraska[1].

Jan 4, 2026 – AccuWeather senior meteorologist Adam Douty attributes the heat surge to a strong ridge in the jet stream that pushes warm air northward and to sunny skies that amplify surface temperatures[1].

Jan 5‑6, 2026 – The NWS short‑range outlook calls for continued sunny conditions with highs in the 50 °F range on Tuesday and Wednesday before a sharp cold turn on Thursday and Friday, signaling a rapid temperature drop after the record‑warm spell[1].

Jan 6, 2026 – The NWS issues winter‑storm warnings for parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, projecting up to 35 inches of snow as two cold fronts move through the Northwest[1].

Feb 23, 2026 – A classic nor’easter, described as a “superbomb,” slams the Northeast with nearly three feet of snow, thundersnow, lightning and hurricane‑force gusts up to 83 mph in Nantucket, while central pressure falls to 966 mb, comparable to a Category 2 hurricane[2].

Feb 23, 2026 – NWS meteorologist Owen Shieh notes the storm hits the “ideal temperature range for wet, heavy snow,” and Jeff Masters adds that its track “maximized moisture,” together creating a perfect “Goldilocks” snowfall scenario[2].

Feb 23, 2026 – Providence records 33.5 inches of snow by midday, breaking its 1978 record, while Warwick logs 36.2 inches and at least 19 stations across five states record two feet or more, underscoring the storm’s historic snowfall totals[2].

Feb 23, 2026 – MIT climate scientist Judah Cohen links the event to a “stretched polar vortex” pattern that intensifies with Arctic warming, supporting recent research that the most intense nor’easters are becoming significantly stronger in a warming world[2].

Feb 23, 2026 – Meteorologists celebrate the rare thundersnow, with Jim Cantore reporting live as lightning strikes nearby and Matthew Cappucci praising the spectacle on social media, highlighting the storm’s dramatic visual impact[2].

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