Power Outages Spread Across The NYC Metro & New Jersey As Emergency Declarations, Travel Bans, & Shutdowns Grip The Northeast

Monday, February 23, 2026, 7:45 A.M. ET. 5 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

MANHATTAN, NY.- A powerful late-winter blizzard barreled up the Eastern Seaboard overnight into Monday, shutting down major transportation corridors and burying communities from Washington, D.C. to coastal Maine under deep, wind-driven snow. Blizzard warnings stretched across much of the Interstate-95 corridor as forecasters warned that the storm’s most dangerous conditions, including whiteouts, drifting snow, and damaging wind gusts, would persist through much of Monday before gradually easing later in the day.

     In several locations, snowfall totals were on pace to approach or exceed two feet by the time the system fully exits the region. Emergency officials across multiple states urged residents to remain off the roads, warning that abandoned vehicles could block plows and emergency responders as snowfall rates intensified and visibility dropped to near zero in some areas.

Snowfall Totals So Far;

     Snowfall varied significantly by location, with narrow but intense snow bands producing dramatic differences over short distances. Verified early-morning reports compiled from National Weather Service observations and trained spotters showed the following totals as of Monday morning:

Washington, D.C. region

• American University: approximately 2.5 inches, reflecting the storm’s weaker southern edge.

New York City metropolitan area

• LaGuardia Airport: 9.1 inches
• John F. Kennedy International Airport: 7.8 inches
• Fresh Meadows, Queens: 9.5 inches

New Jersey

• Freehold: approximately 17.9 inches
• Mount Holly: approximately 16.2 inches

Southern New England

     Early reports across parts of Connecticut and Rhode Island ranged from the mid-single digits to the high single digits, with forecasters warning that the heaviest snowfall and strongest winds were still developing early Monday, particularly in eastern Massachusetts.

Additional Snowfall Expected Before The Storm Ends;

     Forecasters stressed that substantial snowfall remained likely through Monday, particularly across the New York City metro area, New Jersey, and New England.

• New York City and surrounding suburbs: an additional 9 to 12 inches possible before snow tapers later today.
• Central and northern New Jersey: 6 to 13 additional inches, with snowfall rates occasionally exceeding two inches per hour.
• Eastern Massachusetts, including the Boston area: 14 to 21 additional inches, with blizzard conditions potentially lingering into early Tuesday.
• Coastal Maine: 5 to 8 inches with wind gusts approaching 50 mph, producing dangerous blowing and drifting snow.
• Interior Maine, including the Bangor region: 4 to 7 inches, with locally higher amounts possible.

     Meteorologists warned that even after steady snow ends, strong winds could continue to create hazardous travel conditions due to blowing and drifting snow.

Power Outages Across The Northeast;

     Heavy, wet snow combined with strong winds knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers across the region.

• New Jersey: more than 104,000 customers were without power statewide Monday morning.
• New York State: more than 15,000 customers without power, with Queens reporting the highest concentration of outages.

     Utility companies warned that restoration efforts could be delayed if high winds continue to limit safe access for repair crews.

States Of Emergency Declared;

     Governors across the Northeast issued emergency declarations to mobilize resources, restrict travel, and accelerate emergency response efforts.

• New York: A state of emergency covering New York City, Long Island, and parts of the Hudson Valley.
• New Jersey: A statewide state of emergency, with officials urging residents to stay off the roads.
• Connecticut: A statewide emergency declaration as blizzard conditions and outages intensified.
• Massachusetts: A state of emergency ahead of the storm’s most severe impacts.
• Pennsylvania: A disaster emergency proclamation, particularly for the eastern portions of the state.

     Local governments also enacted additional emergency orders, including travel restrictions and closures of non-essential services.

Travel Disruptions And Public Safety Concerns;

     Officials reported widespread travel disruptions, including major flight cancellations at Northeast airports, suspended rail service on select routes, and widespread school closures. Several jurisdictions imposed bans on non-essential travel, warning that road conditions could deteriorate rapidly as snowfall and wind gusts peaked.

     Public safety officials also cautioned residents about secondary hazards, including falling tree limbs, downed power lines, and the physical strain of shoveling heavy, compacted snow.

More Snow Ahead This Week;

     Even as cleanup from this major blizzard begins, meteorologists warned that winter is far from over for the New York metropolitan area. Forecast models indicate two additional snow systems are expected to affect the region later this week, potentially bringing up to 8 more inches of snow by Friday morning. Forecasters said the additional snowfall could complicate recovery efforts, particularly where snowbanks remain high and drainage systems are blocked.

What Happens Next;

     Forecasters expect conditions to gradually improve from south to north late Monday as the storm pulls away from the coast. However, officials warned that dangerous travel conditions may persist well after snowfall ends due to drifting snow, icy roadways, and delayed snow removal.

Residents were urged to remain cautious, conserve power where possible, and check on neighbors, particularly seniors and those with medical needs, until local officials declare conditions safe.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor, and is based on verified reports from National Weather Service offices, official airport observations, emergency management statements, and regional power-outage monitoring services. Snowfall totals and outage figures reflect conditions as of the morning of Monday, February 23, 2026, and may change as the storm concludes and additional reports are confirmed. Englebrook Independent News will continue to update coverage as final snowfall totals and damage assessments become available.