Major Blizzard Slams Northeast As States Declare Emergencies

The first snow has arrived and it’s only the beginning.

A powerful nor’easter is now hammering the Northeast, with blizzard conditions expected to intensify overnight into Monday. Nearly 100 million Americans are in the storm’s path as forecasters warn of heavy snowfall, near-zero visibility, and damaging winds stretching from New Jersey to New England.

Boston, Atlantic City, Portsmouth, and New York City are expected to bear the brunt of the storm, with some regions forecast to receive more than a foot and in some cases nearly two feet of snow.

The National Weather Service warned that “wet snow and strong winds lasting into Monday” could trigger widespread power outages. Sustained winds combined with gusts of 40 to 60 miles per hour meet blizzard criteria when paired with heavy snowfall and visibility under a quarter mile.

Meteorologists predict:

• 12–24 inches of snow across much of the region

• Wind gusts up to 60 mph along coastal areas

• Rapidly deteriorating road conditions as slush refreezes overnight

Temperatures are expected to drop sharply, creating icy surfaces that could make travel treacherous well into Monday morning.

In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul described Sunday as the “calm before the storm” and warned that “the worst is yet to come.”

“Lives are at stake,” she said.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a local state of emergency ahead of the city’s first blizzard warning in nearly a decade. Snow began falling around 8 a.m. Sunday, and forecasts project roughly 16 inches by Monday morning.

The city announced sweeping measures:

• All roads closed to vehicles, including e-bikes and scooters, starting at 9 p.m. Sunday

• Schools canceled Monday

• A pause on remote learning, opting instead for a full closure

Officials are urging residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also declared a state of emergency, urging residents to remain off the roads through Monday. Coastal areas may see wind gusts up to 60 mph, raising concerns about downed trees and power lines.

The National Weather Service warned of possible coastal flooding, with one to two feet of inundation above ground level in low-lying shoreline communities and tidal waterways.

In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu declared a snow emergency and ordered schools and government buildings closed. Plows and salt trucks have been deployed across the city in anticipation of significant accumulation.

Blizzard conditions in major metropolitan corridors often ripple outward, disrupting:

• Rail and airline travel

• Freight deliveries along the I-95 corridor

• Emergency services response times

The combination of heavy, wet snow and strong winds poses particular risk to power grids. Utilities across the Northeast have mobilized repair crews in advance of anticipated outages.

While forecasters expect temperatures to rise later in the week potentially helping with snowmelt the immediate focus remains on safety and storm response.

For now, officials across the Northeast are urging residents to stay home, stock essentials, and prepare for rapidly changing conditions.

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