A rapidly intensifying nor’easter is expected to pummel many parts of the Northeast from Sunday afternoon into Monday.
All five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, and much of New Jersey are under blizzard warnings, with some areas projected to receive close to two feet of snow.
“This will be the first blizzard for much of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts in about four years,” meteorologist Tyler Roys said, according to AccuWeather.
“NOW is the time to prepare. A Blizzard Warning begins Sunday morning and continues into Monday. Heavy snow, strong winds, and near whiteout conditions are expected, with the worst impacts Sunday night through Monday morning,” NYC Emergency Management stated.
⚠️ NOW is the time to prepare. A Blizzard Warning begins Sunday morning and continues into Monday. Heavy snow, strong winds, and near whiteout conditions are expected, with the worst impacts Sunday night through Monday morning.
— NYC Emergency Management (@nycemergencymgt) February 21, 2026
What we're expecting:
🌨️ 13-17 inches of snow…
Full post below:
⚠️ NOW is the time to prepare. A Blizzard Warning begins Sunday morning and continues into Monday. Heavy snow, strong winds, and near whiteout conditions are expected, with the worst impacts Sunday night through Monday morning.
What we’re expecting:
🌨️ 13-17 inches of snow forecasted across the city, with the highest totals over southern portions of NYC closer to the storm’s core. A 20-25% chance of a worst-case scenario bringing 20-23 inches.🕕 Light snow expected to begin around 6 AM Sunday, gradually increasing after noon. Moderate snow by 6 PM, then rapidly intensifying.
🌀 Heaviest snowfall expected to be from 10 PM Sunday through 10 AM Monday, with rates easily exceeding 1.5 inches per hour—and potential bursts of 2-3 inches per hour.
💨 Sustained winds of 25-35 mph with gusts of 40-50 mph out of the north-northeast, increasing through Sunday and remaining dangerous through Monday evening.
📊 Forecast confidence is increasing, but details may still shift as the storm approaches. Regardless of exact totals, significant impacts are certain. Continue monitoring official sources for updates.
🚗 The Monday morning commute will be extremely hazardous. Peak snowfall rates and peak winds will coincide, creating slippery conditions, limited mobility, and near-zero visibility. Avoid traveling.
✈️ Air travel is expected be significantly impacted. Blizzard conditions typically cause widespread flight cancellations, delays, and ground stops at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark. High winds, low visibility, and the need to clear runways and de-ice aircraft will disrupt operations Sunday night through Monday, with ripple effects lasting into Tuesday or beyond.
If you have travel plans, check your flight status directly with your airline before heading to the airport. Contact your airline now about rebooking options. Do not wait at the airport; delays and cancellations can leave travelers stranded for hours. Build extra days of flexibility into your plans if possible.
✅ Prepare now—not Sunday:
Finish errands and grocery shopping today (Saturday). Charge phones, tablets, and backup batteries. Stock medications, baby supplies, pet food, and essentials for 2-3 days. Check in with elderly neighbors or family members who may need support. If you rely on powered medical equipment, confirm your backup plan.Plan now to adjust travel, work, childcare, and caregiving plans. More tips: http://nyc.gov/beready and http://nyc.gov/winterweather
🏠 Need a warm place? Drop-in centers are open across the city: http://on.nyc.gov/dropincenters
🏫 Expect disruptions:
Schools, childcare, medical offices, and workplaces may announce closures or delays for Monday. Build flexibility into your plans and monitor official channels for updates.📲 Stay informed:
Sign up for Notify NYC at http://nyc.gov/notifynyc and follow @NotifyNYC. Call 311 for non-emergency city information.
“I am declaring a State of Emergency in New York City, Long Island, parts of the Hudson Valley and Capital Region ahead of tomorrow’s winter storm. 100 members of the National Guard members & 25 vehicles are being deployed to assist local partners,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
I am declaring a State of Emergency in New York City, Long Island, parts of the Hudson Valley and Capital Region ahead of tomorrow’s winter storm.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) February 21, 2026
100 members of the National Guard members & 25 vehicles are being deployed to assist local partners.
Text your county to 333111 for… pic.twitter.com/MKKqXDwL24
More from the New York Post:
More than 1,700 flights were canceled Saturday in anticipation of the treacherous conditions at major travel hubs like JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Boston Logan to ensure operational safety, according to FOX Weather.
“We are describing this storm as a major nor’easter,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Carl Erickson told The Post early Saturday of the storm, which is expected to impact more than 30 million Americans from as far south as Delaware and Maryland to New York and Boston.
The storm is predicted to begin Sunday and rage into Monday morning with wind gusts of more than 60 mph and with snow expected to fall between 1 and 3 inches per hour in some areas, causing experts to warn of potential power outages and coastal flooding.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island and Southern Westchester County beginning Sunday morning — ahead of the major nor’easter that will bring a predicted 18 to 24 inches of snow to the Big Apple alone.
Extreme Impact Zones — when substantial disruptions to daily life are expected — have been expanded to include New York City and Boston, Fox Weather reported.
The storm will have “very strong winds, near blizzard conditions, and treacherous travel conditions,” said Erickson, who added, “And those travel conditions are going to worsen rapidly Sunday night into Monday morning.”
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill also declared a state of emergency, scheduled to start at noon on Sunday.
“I urge New Jerseyans to use caution, stay off the roads, and follow all safety protocols during the storm,” she said.
NEWS: In preparation for the severe winter storm, I am declaring a State of Emergency across all 21 counties in New Jersey – effective at 12:00 PM on Sunday, February 22.
— Governor Mikie Sherrill (@GovSherrillNJ) February 21, 2026
I urge New Jerseyans to use caution, stay off the roads, and follow all safety protocols during the storm.
AccuWeather shared further:
Close to 40 million people from Delaware and New Jersey through southeastern New York and southern New England may experience blizzard conditions, with winds gusting to 35 mph or more and visibility dropping to one-quarter mile or less for at least three consecutive hours. These conditions should qualify the storm as a blizzard.
Compared to the storm from Jan. 24-26, which brought light-weight, dry, powdery snow, this storm, due to its heavy weight and clinging nature, will make shoveling difficult and dangerous for some individuals in poor health.
With the storm and its snow and wind blasting away at the major hubs in the Northeast, there is the potential for many flight cancellations from Sunday to Monday. The flights that do operate will be subject to extensive delays due to deicing operations and runway maintenance.
Because of the storm’s anticipated rapid strengthening, with barometric pressure plunging at least 0.71 of an inch of mercury (24 millibars) in 24 hours or less, it will track close enough to the coast to bring a general 6-12 inches of snow and locally higher amounts along I-95 from Philadelphia through New York City and Boston.
Near the coast from New Jersey and Long Island, New York, through southeastern New England, 12-18 inches of snow is forecast with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 36 inches. Depending on small changes in the storm strength and track, 12-18 inches of snow is possible in coastal Delaware and Maryland as well.
There may be even greater amounts of snow on the coast and well inland if the storm develops to its full potential and slows its forward speed. Snowfall rates of 1-3 inches per hour at times may overwhelm road crews, leaving some motorists stranded from the mid-Atlantic to southern New England.
Farther inland, snowfall will be significantly lower, but enough to shovel and plow from eastern Tennessee and the North Carolina mountains to much of West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, upstate New York and southeastern Maine.
