New York: A powerful winter storm swept across the US Northeast on February 23, shutting down schools, disrupting transport networks, and prompting emergency declarations as officials warned of heavy snowfall, strong winds, and dangerous travel conditions.
Children across large parts of the region were told to stay home as school districts canceled classes. In New York City, the nation’s largest public school system closed all public-school buildings for a traditional snow day, with no remote instruction and all after-school activities canceled.
The storm snarled travel along the East Coast from Washington to New England. Airlines canceled more than 5,000 flights on February 23, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.
NYC, we've declared a local state of emergency ahead of this blizzard.
Here's what that means for you:
Roads closed at 9pm — streets, highways, and bridges closed to all vehicles (cars, trucks, scooters, e-bikes) through 12pm Monday. Essential and emergency trips only.
No…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 22, 2026
Aviation analytics firm Cirium said that more than 25,000 flights had been scheduled to depart from the United States on February 23, with cancellations also climbing for Tuesday, particularly at major Northeast airports.
The US Postal Service warned that winter weather could delay the processing, transportation, and delivery of mail and packages.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and ordered non-essential vehicles off city roads from February 22 night until noon February 23 to allow plows and emergency crews to operate as snowfall intensified.
The city is under its first blizzard warning since 2017. Municipal offices suspended in-person services, and non-essential city employees were directed to work remotely. “I’m urging every New Yorker to please stay home,” Mamdani said.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul activated 100 National Guard members to assist in Long Island, New York City, and the Lower Hudson Valley, areas forecast to bear the brunt of heavy snow and coastal winds. The storm also forced the closure of the United Nations headquarters complex in Manhattan.
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, parts of the Northeast could receive up to two feet of snow, with wind gusts reaching 70 mph, heightening the risk of falling trees and power outages.
In a February 22 update, the department stated that despite an ongoing funding lapse, the Federal Emergency Management Agency continues its disaster-response operations without interruption. FEMA’s work, including staff travel, emergency operations, and critical assistance to those affected by active disasters, remains focused on life safety and property protection.
Elsewhere, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared an emergency and instructed state workers to stay home. In Connecticut, authorities barred commercial vehicles from limited-access highways starting February 22 evening, with exemptions only for emergency and essential deliveries.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a statewide emergency effective noon February 22 and urged residents to take the winter storm seriously, adding that, “People need to take this very seriously.”
Public transport systems were heavily disrupted. NJ Transit suspended bus, light rail, and Access Link services on February 22 and halted statewide rail service by night on the same day, with operations set to resume only when conditions permit.
In New England, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority announced it would suspend all services, including its RIde paratransit program, from February 22 night through February 23, with resumption plans to be announced once weather conditions improve.
Separately, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejected US President Donald Trump’s suggestion of sending a hospital ship to Greenland, saying ‘no thanks.’ Officials across the Northeast continued to urge residents to remain indoors as emergency crews worked to manage snow removal, prevent power outages, and restore services once conditions stabilize.
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