Bomb Cyclone Dumps Record Snow Across Northeast, Power Outages Persist as Travel Bans Ease
Updated (29 articles)
Record Snowfall and Hurricane‑Force Winds Define Bomb Cyclone The storm intensified to bomb‑cyclone status early Monday, producing hurricane‑force gusts that ripped power lines and drove snowfall to historic levels, with Providence, Rhode Island recording 37.9 inches [2][4] and parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts receiving up to three feet [1][5]. The National Weather Service labeled the system a classic bomb cyclone/nor’easter, noting a 24‑mb pressure drop in 24 hours [7][14]. Snowfall rates peaked at 2–3 inches per hour, creating white‑out conditions from New Jersey through Maine [7][14].
Power Outages Affect Hundreds of Thousands Across Multiple States More than 225,000 customers remained without electricity Tuesday night, including over 190,000 in southeastern Massachusetts [2], while the Boston Globe reported about 300,000 outages in Massachusetts alone, with 85 % of Cape Cod customers dark [3]. Le Monde counted 570,000 households without power, 285,000 of them in Massachusetts [6]. AP noted that over 500,000 customers lost power along the East Coast [5], and Cape Cod still had over 100,000 outages the following day [1].
Travel Disruption Peaks with Thousands of Flight Cancellations and Rail Halts Flight cancellations topped 10,000 nationwide, including 2,200 on Tuesday [2] and 5,706 recorded by FlightAware on Monday [3]; AP reported more than 5,600 cancellations on Monday and an additional 2,000 on Tuesday [5]. Amtrak service was disrupted across Boston‑NY and NY‑Philadelphia routes [1], while the Long Island Rail Road began limited service early Tuesday [4]. Travel bans were imposed in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, though Connecticut lifted its commercial‑vehicle ban and New Jersey removed speed limits by Monday [4][3].
Schools and City Services Respond Differently: NYC Stays Open, Others Close New York City kept schools open for 900,000 students, achieving roughly 63 % attendance despite deep drifts [1], while Mayor Zohran Mamdani enforced a citywide travel ban from 9 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday and declared a state of emergency [11][13]. Elsewhere, public schools closed region‑wide, and many districts shifted to virtual learning or delayed starts [11][10]. The Boston Globe skipped its Tuesday print edition for the first time in 154 years due to the storm [4].
Second Milder Storm Expected While Some Travel Bans Lift The National Weather Service warned of a secondary low‑pressure system that could add less than two inches of snow to most areas, with slightly higher totals in higher elevations [2][4]. Governors in Connecticut and New Jersey lifted most travel restrictions, whereas Massachusetts maintained a non‑essential‑vehicle ban in four counties with a $500 fine [4]. Officials urged residents to monitor forecasts as additional snowfall and high winds could linger through Wednesday [1][7].
Sources
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1.
AP: Northeast Snowstorm Leaves Millions Digging Out, Schools Open, Power Outages Persist: Highlights record‑breaking bomb cyclone, NYC school attendance, 100k+ Cape Cod outages, travel bans, and a milder follow‑up storm .
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2.
CNN: Northeast grapples with power outages, travel chaos after historic bomb cyclone: Emphasizes 225k power outages, 37.9 in Providence snow, >10,000 flight cancellations, and a modest secondary snow event .
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3.
BBC: East Coast Nor'easter Triggers Record Snow, Travel Bans and 5,700 Flight Cancellations: Focuses on record Providence snowfall, statewide travel bans, 600k+ power outages, and police snowball incident .
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4.
CNN: Northeast bomb cyclone weakens, travel bans ease after record snowfall: Details cyclone exit, 30+ in snowfall, LIRR limited service restart, Boston Globe print skip, and varied state travel restrictions .
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5.
AP: Northeastern U.S. Hit by Decade‑Strong Snowstorm, Flights Canceled and Power Lost: Reports storm’s ten‑year strength, record snow/wind measurements, >5,600 flight cancellations Monday, and >500,000 outages .
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6.
Le Monde: Northeast U.S. hit by rare snowstorm, 40 million face extreme conditions: Provides French perspective on 90 cm snow, eight governors’ emergencies, 570k household outages, and UN headquarters closure .
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7.
King5: Nor'easter Slams Northeast US, Triggering Blizzard, Travel Chaos and Power Outages: Highlights bomb cyclogenesis pressure drop, 1–2 ft snow bands, and ongoing recovery amid a second snowfall wave .
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8.
Newsweek: New York City Blizzard: Social Media Shows City Under Deep Snow: Shows NYC street footage, 2–3 in/hr snowfall rates, 17,000 power outages, and mayoral travel ban with NYPD enforcement .
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9.
BBC: Historic Nor'easter Triggers Travel Ban and Widespread Outages in Northeast US: Covers 59 million under alerts, NYC full travel ban, 5,500 flight cancellations, and Broadway closures .
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10.
Newsweek: Maryland Declares State of Emergency as Nor'easter Brings Heavy Snow: Details Maryland’s emergency declaration, snowiest winter since 2018‑19, and extensive school schedule changes .
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11.
CNN: Zohran Mamdani imposes travel ban and snow day as historic blizzard hits NYC: Describes NYC travel ban, school closures without remote learning, and massive plow/sanitation deployment .
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12.
AP: East Coast Braces for Up to Two Feet of Snow as Blizzard Alerts Sweep Region: Provides early storm forecast, mayoral travel ban, NJ speed limit cut, and snow‑removal firm preparations .
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13.
Newsweek: New York City Enforces Citywide Travel Ban as Historic Blizzard Approaches: Outlines travel‑ban exemptions, detailed snowfall forecasts, and extensive city emergency staffing .
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14.
CNN: Bomb Cyclone Nor’easter Triggers Blizzard Warnings Across New York, Northeast: Highlights bomb‑cyclone intensification, statewide emergencies, NYC warming centers, and >6,000 flight cancellations .
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15.
Newsweek: Northeast Braces for Up to 18 Inches of Snow as Governors Declare Emergencies: Focuses on pre‑storm emergency declarations, 12‑18 in snowfall forecast, and public‑ready advisories .
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Timeline
Dec 26‑27, 2025 – A winter storm sweeps the Northeast and Great Lakes, causing widespread flight cancellations (over 1,500 flights on Dec 26) and delays, prompting New York and New Jersey governors to declare states of emergency and urging travelers to avoid discretionary travel; power outages affect thousands, and the storm drops 4‑10 inches of snow from Syracuse to Long Island, with Central Park recording 4.3 inches, the most since 2022 [24][25][26][28]
Dec 27, 2025 – The storm sets regional snowfall records, with Aspendell, CA logging 55 inches in 24 hours and Central Park reaching 4.3 inches; Governor Hochul declares a disaster emergency in several counties, and over 600 flights cancel across New York‑area airports, straining holiday travel [18]
Dec 28, 2025 – Governor Kathy Hochul declares a state of emergency across more than half of New York as a snowstorm brings 6‑10 inches of snow from Syracuse to Long Island, triggers Code Blue for homeless shelters, and leads to more than 900 flight cancellations and 8,000 delays nationwide; NYC closes schools, suspends nonessential services, and the TSA expects 2.86 million travelers on Sunday [5][11]
Jan 7, 2026 – A mixed ice, sleet, and snow event blankets New England, prompting dozens of school districts to close or delay classes, causing power outages for several thousand customers and several hundred vehicle accidents, while the National Weather Service warns of additional rain‑then‑snow systems later in the week [23]
Jan 19, 2026 – A winter storm disrupts hundreds of flights at New York‑area airports, with JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark each experiencing over 100 cancellations; the National Weather Service forecasts two snowfall waves, and transit agencies prepare for possible service impacts as snow accumulates across the region [17]
Jan 23, 2026 – Mayor Zohran Mamdani faces his first major snowstorm test a month into his term, mobilizing thousands of sanitation workers, 700 million lb of salt, and 1,600 snow plows, while warning that political scrutiny follows past mayoral snow‑storm failures in New York City [10]
Jan 24, 2026 – The National Weather Service warns over 200 million Americans of an “extremely dangerous” winter storm with foot‑plus snow from Colorado to Boston, sub‑zero wind chills, and governors in 16 states declare emergencies; New York City deploys 1,600 plows and 114,000 tonnes of salt, and FlightAware records more than 4,800 flight cancellations on Sunday [3]
Jan 25, 2026 – Avalanches block Coxton Road in Pennsylvania, while winter storm Ferm blankets the South and Northeast with heavy snow, sleet, and arctic temperatures, leaving nearly 1 million customers without power; President Donald Trump signs emergency declarations for affected states, and governors issue travel advisories and close offices [16]
Jan 27, 2026 – A massive winter storm sweeps from Texas to Maine, delivering over 20 inches of snow in parts of the Northeast, setting new records such as 11.4 inches in Central Park and 18 inches at Toronto Pearson; the storm causes at least 20 deaths, more than 500,000 power outages, and over 6,000 flight cancellations, while forecasters warn of another major storm arriving Friday [4]
Feb 21, 2026 – Governors Kathy Hochul and Mikie Sherrill declare emergencies as a storm threatens 12‑18 inches of snow across the Northeast, prompting blizzard warnings for six states, activation of 100 National Guard members, and advisories for residents to stock three‑day supplies and limit travel [15]
Feb 22, 2026 – Mayor Zohran Mamdani declares a citywide emergency and a travel ban from 9 p.m. Sunday to noon Monday, predicts 1‑2 feet of snow with pockets up to 3 feet, and mobilizes 2,600 sanitation workers, 700 salt spreaders, and warming centers; Nassau County mirrors the ban, Maryland Governor Wes Moore activates a statewide emergency as the nor’easter intensifies into a bomb cyclone with hurricane‑force winds [14][13][9][22]
Feb 23, 2026 – The nor’easter intensifies via bomb cyclogenesis, dropping 24 mb in 24 hours, delivering 1‑2 feet of snow from New Jersey to Maine, and causing thousands of flight cancellations and widespread power outages affecting over 570,000 households; Mayor Mamdani says the worst of the storm has passed, while Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch calls snowball‑pelted officers “disgraceful” and “criminal,” and the UN postpones a Security Council meeting as the classic bomb cyclone sets records with 37.9 inches in Providence [27][29][1][20][12][21]
Feb 24, 2026 – The bomb cyclone exits New England after dumping up to three feet of snow, prompting travel bans to ease, the Long Island Rail Road to resume limited service at 4 a.m., and the Boston Globe to skip its Tuesday print edition for the first time in 154 years; the storm leaves more than 225,000 customers without electricity and over 10,000 flights canceled, and a secondary low‑pressure system is forecast to bring modest snow overnight into Wednesday [7][1][6]
Feb 25, 2026 – Massive outages linger, especially in southeastern Massachusetts where over 190,000 customers remain dark, while total U.S. flight cancellations exceed 10,000; a secondary low‑pressure system brings less than two inches of additional snow to most areas, and officials continue restoring power and clearing roads [6][24]
Feb 26‑Mar 1, 2026 (forecast) – The National Weather Service predicts an Alberta Clipper to affect the Great Lakes and Northeast on Tuesday‑Wednesday with snow, ice, and high winds, followed by a milder Great Lakes‑origin storm on Wednesday that may add rain and snow, while another clipper system could bring additional precipitation later in the week, keeping travel hazardous [1][20]
Dive deeper (7 sub-stories)
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Bomb Cyclone Aftermath: Millions Without Power, Travel Chaos, New Storm Looms
(6 articles)
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Record‑Breaking Northeastern Snowstorm Cancels Thousands of Flights and Cuts Power to 500,000
(11 articles)
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NYC Blizzard Forces Travel Ban, Power Outages, and National Guard Activation
(7 articles)
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Newsweek: Maryland Declares State of Emergency as Nor'easter Brings Heavy Snow
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani Enforces Travel Ban, Closes Schools, Mobilizes Emergency Plows Amid Historic NYC Blizzard
(2 articles)
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Newsweek: Avalanches Block Pennsylvania Road as Winter Storm Ferm Sweeps U.S.
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AP: Ice, sleet and snow on Jan. 7 force New England school closures and hazardous travel
All related articles (29 articles)
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AP: Northeast Snowstorm Leaves Millions Digging Out, Schools Open, Power Outages Persist
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CNN: Northeast grapples with power outages, travel chaos after historic bomb cyclone
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BBC: East Coast Nor'easter Triggers Record Snow, Travel Bans and 5,700 Flight Cancellations
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CNN: Northeast bomb cyclone weakens, travel bans ease after record snowfall
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AP: Northeastern U.S. Hit by Decade‑Strong Snowstorm, Flights Canceled and Power Lost
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Le Monde: Northeast U.S. hit by rare snowstorm, 40 million face extreme conditions
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Nor'easter Slams Northeast US, Triggering Blizzard, Travel Chaos and Power Outages
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Newsweek: New York City Blizzard: Social Media Shows City Under Deep Snow
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BBC: Historic Nor'easter Triggers Travel Ban and Widespread Outages in Northeast US
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Newsweek: Maryland Declares State of Emergency as Nor'easter Brings Heavy Snow
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CNN: Zohran Mamdani imposes travel ban and snow day as historic blizzard hits NYC
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AP: East Coast Braces for Up to Two Feet of Snow as Blizzard Alerts Sweep Region
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Newsweek: New York City Enforces Citywide Travel Ban as Historic Blizzard Approaches
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CNN: Bomb Cyclone Nor’easter Triggers Blizzard Warnings Across New York, Northeast
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Newsweek: Northeast Braces for Up to 18 Inches of Snow as Governors Declare Emergencies
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BBC: Winter Storm Sweeps U.S. and Canada, Leaving Dozens Dead and Massive Disruptions
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Newsweek: Avalanches Block Pennsylvania Road as Winter Storm Ferm Sweeps U.S.
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BBC: US braces for ‘extremely dangerous’ winter storm
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CNN: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Prepares for First Snowstorm Test
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Newsweek: Winter storm disrupts hundreds of NYC flights as warnings ease
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AP: Ice, sleet and snow on Jan. 7 force New England school closures and hazardous travel
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CNN: Snowstorm snarls travel at NYC-area airports as next storm looms
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BBC: New York snowstorm triggers state of emergency as travel chaos unfolds
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The Hindu: Northeast winter storm causes thousands of flight delays and cancellations
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AP: Winter storm disrupts travel across US Northeast, Great Lakes
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King5 (Seattle, WA): Winter storm snarls holiday travel across US Northeast and Great Lakes
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Newsweek: Massive Snow Totals Hit New York and California in 24 Hours, Prompting Travel Disruptions and Emergency Declarations
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): Winter storm snarls holiday travel across US Northeast and Great Lakes
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Newsweek: Winter Storm Slams Northeast as State of Emergency Declared
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