Winter Storm Hernando is delivering a historic punch to the Northeast, burying parts of New York, New Jersey, and Long Island under up to two feet of snow. With blizzard warnings in effect and wind gusts topping 60 mph, officials imposed sweeping travel bans and grounded thousands of flights. Power outages have surged into the hundreds of thousands as heavy snow and strong winds strain infrastructure. While conditions are expected to gradually improve later today, the storm may rank among New York City’s most significant winter events in decades.
Winter Storm Hernando slams the Northeast with up to 2 feet of snow, blizzard conditions, 60+ mph winds, travel bans, 10,000 flight cancellations, and massive power outages. NYC under emergency orders as one of the region’s most severe storms in years. #Hernando #Blizzard #NYC pic.twitter.com/sHAecGNOmN
— Matthew Brady (@mattbrady775) February 23, 2026
- Winter Storm Hernando is battering the Northeast U.S. with blizzard conditions, heavy snow, and high winds.
- Snowfall totals (as of Feb. 23, 2026, morning/early afternoon ET):
- New York City: ~15 inches reported in Central Park, LaGuardia, and JFK; totals may reach 18–20+ inches.
- Long Island (Islip): Up to 22.5 inches.
- New Jersey (Freehold): Up to 24 inches in isolated areas; widespread 15–22 inches.
- Parts of CT, RI, PA: 18–23 inches; some areas forecast to reach 1–2 feet.
- Snowfall rates of 2–3 inches per hour reported in heavy bands.
- The storm rapidly intensified into a “bomb cyclone.”
- NYC travel ban in effect until noon ET Feb. 23, declared by Mayor Zohran Mamdani under a state of emergency.
- Non-essential vehicles prohibited; reduced/suspended public transit; schools closed.
- Similar travel bans across parts of NJ, Long Island, Westchester County, and Connecticut.
- 9,000–10,000+ flights canceled nationwide, with major disruptions at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark.
- Hundreds of thousands without power across NY, NJ, and surrounding states.
- Blizzard warnings stretch from Maryland to Maine, with wind gusts 40–60+ mph.
- Coastal flooding and whiteout conditions reported.
- Conditions expected to improve gradually later Feb. 23 as the system moves offshore.
