New York City is bouncing back from a historic blizzard that buried the region with 15 to 24 inches of snow across the five boroughs over the weekend of February 22-23. The nor'easter grounded thousands of flights, shut down public transit, and brought the city to a near standstill. More than 30 inches of snow fell on parts of Long Island and New Jersey, with some areas setting record-breaking totals.
Between 15 and 24 inches of snow was reported across the five boroughs, with Grasmere, Staten Island recording 24.1 inches. This marks the most snow the city has seen since 2016. In Manhattan, Central Park accumulated 19.7 inches, now ranking as the 9th largest snowstorm on record. More than 600,000 utility customers lost power across the Northeast, and more than 30 inches of snow fell on parts of Long Island and New Jersey. The storm forced the shutdown of all Broadway shows for two consecutive days, and travel bans were issued across multiple states during the worst conditions.
The region isn't out of the woods yet. A fast-moving system is expected to pass through Wednesday morning between approximately 3:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., with light snow and rain mixing in after 6:00 a.m. Total accumulation is expected to range from a half-inch to one inch by late Wednesday morning. Low temperatures overnight Tuesday and light snow during the Wednesday morning commute could create slick roads and black ice, so commuters should use caution. The good news: high temperatures Wednesday will reach the low 40s, which should help with melting. Saturday is expected to bring sunshine with high temperatures in the upper 40s to near 50, finally giving the region some relief.
City crews have been working around the clock to clear streets. The region is dealing with massive snowfall totals that have created significant cleanup challenges. Sanitation Department plows are prioritizing main streets and emergency routes as residents continue digging out. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani encouraged New Yorkers to limit unnecessary travel Wednesday morning and check on neighbors. Schools reopened Tuesday after the snow day Monday, and most public services have resumed, though transit delays may continue as infrastructure teams assess storm damage.