The February 2026 blizzard in New Jersey was officially classified as a “bomb cyclone.” The designation applies when a storm undergoes bombogenesis — a rapid intensification defined by a pressure drop of at least 24 millibars within 24 hours. The National Weather Service described it as a “classic bomb cyclone/nor’easter off the Northeast coast.”
- New Jersey’s 2026 blizzard intensified into a “bomb cyclone,” defined by a pressure drop of at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
- A statewide travel ban announced February 22 was extended to 4 PM on February 23, and NJ Transit suspended all train, bus, light rail, and Access Link service as of 7 AM February 23.
- More than 500,000 customers lost power along the East Coast, including 128,000 in New Jersey, while 5,000 to more than 6,000 flights were canceled nationwide, and snowfall reached up to 3 feet in parts of the region.
Snowfall Forecast and Accumulation in New Jersey
Forecasters said snow in New Jersey would continue until around 1 PM. The National Weather Service forecast stated, “The snow could be heavy at times. Areas of blowing snow before 4 pm. High near 34. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Windy, with a north wind 22 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.”
A Blizzard Warning remained in effect until 6 PM. A Nixle alert from the City of Hoboken said up to an additional 10 inches of snow were possible.
Snowfall totals reached 18.5 inches in Hoboken and 24.3 inches in Moonachie, N.J. Across parts of New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Long Island, the National Weather Service reported as much as 3 feet of snow.
The storm led to the first blizzard warning issued for New York City since 2017 and the first for Philadelphia since 2016.
The National Weather Service also forecast light snow accumulation in New Jersey on Tuesday and Wednesday.
New Jersey Travel Ban and Emergency Orders
On February 22, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced a statewide travel ban beginning at 9 PM and ending at 7 AM the following day. As conditions deteriorated, the ban was extended until 4 PM on February 23.
Although the statewide travel ban was lifted at noon ET, Hoboken extended its travel ban until 4 PM ET.
New Jersey declared a state of emergency. Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut also declared states of emergency, and 20 counties in New York were under emergency declarations.
Rhode Island barred all vehicles except emergency vehicles from traveling until further notice. Gov. Dan McKee said the state of emergency and travel ban would remain in effect overnight so plow crews could continue clearing roads, with reassessment scheduled for Tuesday morning. State offices were to remain closed on Tuesday.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey issued a nonessential travel ban for Bristol, Plymouth, and Barnstable counties and reduced the speed limit to 40 mph on the Massachusetts Turnpike. She said, “Whiteout conditions are making travel extremely dangerous. If you get stuck, help will have a hard time reaching you.”
NJ Transit Suspension and PATH Service Changes
By 7 AM on February 23, NJ Transit Train, Bus, Light Rail, and Access Link services were suspended. The agency stated that service would remain suspended until conditions permitted a safe, gradual resumption.
At 7,39 AM, PATH service status was as follows:
- NWK–JSQ and HOB–WTC lines suspended
- JSQ–WTC and JSQ–33 via HOB operating with delays
- HOB–33 operating on or close to a 20-minute schedule
New York Waterway reported that ferry service from Hoboken/NJT to Brookfield began operating at 7,40 AM after a delayed opening. Port Imperial and Hoboken 14 service to Brookfield Place and Pier 11 operated on a modified schedule. All other routes were canceled for the day.
Elsewhere:
- Long Island Rail Road service was fully suspended until further notice
- Metro-North trains were delayed up to one hour
- New York City subway lines experienced suspensions, rerouting, and delays
- CTrail canceled all train service
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority operated reduced service
- Amtrak canceled Northeast train service
Flight Cancellations Across the Northeast
According to FlightAware, more than 5,000 flights in and out of the United States were canceled on Monday. Another update reported at least 5,600 cancellations nationwide. Later counts exceeded 6,000 canceled flights.
All three international airports in the New York City area had at least 90 percent of outgoing flights canceled, including 98 percent at LaGuardia. Boston Logan International Airport reported 92 percent of flights grounded, and T.F. Green International Airport in Rhode Island had 87 percent of flights canceled and temporarily ended operations.
Roughly half of departing flights from New York’s three airports had already been canceled for Tuesday.
Canadian airports urged travelers to check flight status directly with airlines.
Power Outages and Wind Conditions
Storm-related outages left more than 500,000 customers without electricity along the East Coast early Monday. PowerOutage.us reported over 212,000 customers without power in Massachusetts and 128,000 in New Jersey. About 10,000 customers were without power on suburban Long Island.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said utility crews would restore power as soon as possible, though winds of 80 km/h could slow restoration efforts.
Bryce Williams, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Boston office, said, “Winds like that, combined with heavy, wet snow, are a recipe for damaged trees and prolonged power outages… That’s what we’re most concerned with, is the combination of those extreme snow amounts with that wind.”
Storm chaser Jaden Pappenheim recorded wind gusts up to 65 mph in Plymouth, Mass., where snowfall reached 20 inches.
School Closures and Municipal Directives
New York City and Boston canceled public school classes on Monday, while Philadelphia moved to online learning.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called it the “first old-school snow day since 2019.”
He told students, “And to kids across New York City, you have a very serious mission if you choose to accept it, Stay cozy.”
Mamdani later said New York City public schools would resume in-person learning Tuesday and added, “You can still pelt me with snowballs when you see me.”
New York state law requires 180 days of classroom instruction.
Boston Public Schools remained closed through Tuesday, Feb. 24.
New York City’s Sanitation Department announced that the city government’s storm designation ended at 4,30 PM Monday. Property owners were instructed, “Property owners, that means you must shovel your sidewalk by 8,30pm, including a four-foot path for wheelchairs and strollers, as well as around any curb ramps, fire hydrants, and unsheltered bus stops that may be in front of your property,”
Safety Guidance and Emergency Resources
The National Weather Service advised staying home and off the roads. If travel was unavoidable, residents were told to check road conditions, inform someone of their route, maintain a full tank or charge, and carry an emergency kit.
For police, fire, or medical emergencies, residents were instructed to call 911.
