Story perspectives

Northeast Blizzard Leaves 300K Without Power, Schools Reopen

2/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

Rhode Island recorded 37.9 inches in the historic Northeast blizzard.
Massachusetts and New Jersey faced outages affecting about 300,000 and 100,000 customers, with travel bans and over 10,000 flight cancellations.
New York City will reopen schools despite ongoing travel safety concerns.
Governor Maura Healey (D-Mass.) urged residents to stay home to aid snow removal and power restoration.
A second storm is anticipated soon, but it will bring less snow.

History

Historical Context

The Great Blizzard of 1888 struck the Northeast in March, dropping up to 55 inches of snow and causing over 400 deaths. This catastrophic storm paralyzed cities like New York and Boston, leading to significant travel disruptions. The disaster prompted improvements in urban infrastructure and emergency response systems, shaping future preparedness for severe winter weather events in the region.

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Story summary

Rhode Island recorded 37.9 inches in the historic Northeast blizzard.
Massachusetts and New Jersey faced outages affecting about 300,000 and 100,000 customers, with travel bans and over 10,000 flight cancellations.
New York City will reopen schools despite ongoing travel safety concerns.
Governor Maura Healey (D-Mass.) urged residents to stay home to aid snow removal and power restoration.
A second storm is anticipated soon, but it will bring less snow.

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