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Historic Blizzard Hits NYC: State of Emergency Declared

2/25/2026

25 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A record blizzard struck New York City on February 23, 2026, with Central Park recording 19.7 inches of snow.
Staten Island reported up to 31 inches of snow.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and canceled classes for the first 'old-school' snow day since 2019.
The MTA reported limited subway service as cleanup began, and a second storm was forecast later this week.

History

Historical Context

The Great Blizzard of 1888 struck the northeastern United States from March 11-14, burying New York City under 40 inches of snow and causing over 400 fatalities. This catastrophic event led to the establishment of the U.S. Weather Bureau, founded in 1870, to improve weather forecasting. Today's blizzard, with Central Park receiving 19.7 inches, highlights ongoing concerns about extreme winter weather amid climate change.

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Story summary

A record blizzard struck New York City on February 23, 2026, with Central Park recording 19.7 inches of snow.
Staten Island reported up to 31 inches of snow.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a state of emergency and canceled classes for the first 'old-school' snow day since 2019.
The MTA reported limited subway service as cleanup began, and a second storm was forecast later this week.

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