Summary

Live Reporting

Edited by Brandon Livesay in New York, with BBC Weather presenter Chris Fawkes

  1. New York park closed because of heavy snow in trees

    Oliver O'Connell
    Reporting from New York

    Snow covered park benches and tablesOliver O'Connell / BBC

    It was eerily quiet along Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District this morning, with the snow still falling heavily.

    Small groups of New Yorkers and some tourists were shuffling through the snow to Madison Square Park, while building staff cleared paths on the sidewalks.

    The park itself is closed as the trees are weighed down with snow.

    Sanitation trucks and other heavy machinery are clearing the roads, and buses are making their way down the avenue.

    The city's travel ban has now been lifted, so some private vehicles are also appearing on the streets.

    A snow covered statue atOliver O'Connell / BBC

    Snow covered statue of William Seward, former New York governor

  2. Governors warn of falling trees and power outages

    A police officer looks at a downed branch on a snow-covered on February 23, 2026, in Hoboken, New Jersey.Getty Images

    A downed tree branch in Hoboken, New Jersey

    A state of emergency remains in place across many states, including New Jersey and Connecticut.

    New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who is about a month into the job, says she is especially worried about falling trees.

    "That presents a very dangerous situation on our roads and to our utilities," she tells CNN.

    In Connecticut, a travel ban on commercial vehicles remains in place until further notice, Governor Ned Lamont says in an online post.

    "We [have] probably got about 20,000 folks without power right now," he tells CNN, adding that he expected that figure to increase.

    "That’s going to pick up as the winds continue to pick up. So that’s what I really worry about. And that’s going to take a little longer to fix."

  3. New Jersey city extends travel ban

    Authorities in Hoboken, New Jersey, have extended the city's travel ban until 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT).

    That's after more than 14 inches (35.5 cm) of snow was reported in the region and still continues to fall.

    "Violators are subject to summonses," the city says.

    That's as Rhode Island governor Dan McKee says the state's travel ban and state of emergency will remain in place, adding that utility crews will work to restore power as "extreme wind" stops.

  4. New Yorker can't remember a storm this bad since the 1960s

    Ann Butler
    BBC News, New York

    I live in New York, but have been stranded in North Carolina while visiting family - my flight was moved about three times until I rebooked on another airline into New Jersey.

    But I was born in New York and have family there right now. This is the most snow I remember since growing up there in the 1990s.

    My mother, Kathleen Butler, who I checked on this morning (all safe, thankfully!) has lived in New York City since the 1960s and says she also does not remember the last time she saw this much snow.

    She doesn't remember any New York City storm this bad, in fact.

    "We may have, but I do not remember a winter like this where it was so cold all the time and we've had these mega snowstorms," she says.

    "We may have had one or two, but not like this."

    A view of snowy streets and trees in Manhattan

    A view down the usually busy 23rd street in Manhattan

  5. Mayor Mamdani lifts NYC travel ban
    Breaking

    New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani has lifted a citywide travel ban on non-essential travel, which was imposed just before a blizzard battered the nation's most populous city.

    The ban was lifted at 12:00 ET (17:00 GMT).

    "Conditions on the roads remain icy," Mamdani says in an online post.

    "If you choose to drive, please exercise caution, travel slowly, and be mindful of others on the road.
We continue to advise New Yorkers to stay safe and stay indoors as much as possible."

  6. Some UK flights to US to resume tomorrow

    Planes outside of London Heathrow AirportGetty Images

    Earlier today, we reported on flights from British and Irish airports cancelled due to the storm in the US.

    All flights to Boston and New York from London Heathrow Airport were cancelled today, with some more already cancelled on Tuesday morning.

    But all flights arriving at Heathrow from Boston and New York are still cancelled on Tuesday.

    Flights to New York from Dublin, Manchester and Edinburgh were also cancelled this morning but are scheduled to resume tomorrow.

    More than 5,000 flights are cancelled to and from US airports today, amongst other travel disruptions.

  7. Heavy snow brings down tree in Brooklyn

    Brandon Livesay
    Reporting from New York

    A fallen tree blocks a snow-covered streetBrandon Livesay / BBC

    The blizzard and heavy snow has brought down a tree in Brooklyn, blocking a residential street and lying on top of parked cars.

    I spoke to Jenny, who has lived on the street for about eight years. Jenny says she can't remember a snow storm like this.

    "I have to check in with my neighbour, it's outside her house," Jenny says of the large tree.

    Jenny only arrived back in New York last night after a trip to the UK.

    "I just came back from Scotland, woke up, spent an hour shovelling the snow and now it's like piling up again, so round two."

    "But it's gorgeous,"

    You can read more about heavy snow, and why it brings down trees, in this post from earlier.

    A woman in a large winter coat stands in front of a fallen tree on a snow-covered Brooklyn streetBrandon Livesay / BBC

  8. At least 20 trees downed in blizzard

    The New York branch of the National Weather Service say it is dealing with 20 incidents of trees falling, caused by the blizzard conditions.

    That includes multiple road closures and utility disruptions.

    Five reports say that damage has been caused by trees landing on buildings or cars.

  9. 'We're just hoping our flight on Wednesday still goes ahead'

    James Kelly
    UGC Hub

    Miles is in New York City with his partner Jessica and a group of friends.

    The couple, from Hull, have thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet the snow storm has afforded them in what is usually one of the world's busiest cities.

    Getting home, on the other hand, is a concern. Miles says: "We're currently in New York until Wednesday.

    "As tourists we’re seeing it as a bit of fun and we enjoyed Sunday immensely.

    "The streets were quiet of traffic, allowing us to take many photos in places we wouldn’t normally be allowed to stand.

    "Our trip up the Rockefeller and Empire State Building yesterday was cancelled due to the whiteout.

    "But as we’re just doing the tourist thing, it’s not really been too bad. A bit of fun.

    "We're just hoping our flight out to Chicago and on to Vegas on Wednesday still goes ahead."

    People on the Brooklyn BridgeMiles R
    A red banner with the words ‘Your Voice’ written in white with a lighter red graphic paintbrush effect behind it

  10. Watch: Take a walk down Brooklyn's snowy streets

    Our reporter Brandon Livesay is in Brooklyn, New York City - watch as he takes a walk along snow-covered streets.

  11. It's easy to get lost in icy Brooklyn

    Brandon Livesay
    Reporting from New York

    A frozen stop sign on a Brooklyn street, with a car covered in snow.Brandon Livesay / BBC

    The visibility outside is about two blocks, maybe around 150m.

    The powerful wind gusts mean there's snow plastered on everything.

    While I was walking outside, a man with a shovel asked me which way a street was.

    He'd been paid to shovel the entrance to a building but said there was so much snow that he couldn't read the street signs.

    He was only two streets away.

    A snowy street with a man with an orange beanie walking down itBrandon Livesay / BBC

  12. 'The weather is getting worse', says Brit stuck in Boston

    Andrée Massiah
    BBC News

    Jason Hunter-Jones, who lives in Durham, works for British Airways and arrived in Boston on Sunday.

    He was due to fly back to the UK today, but flights have been cancelled because of the weather conditions.

    “I was only going to be here for 24 hours, but all four flights have been cancelled." he tells the BBC.

    He adds that when he went to sleep, around 22:00 last night, there was no snow. But assumes it must have fallen in the early hours.

    "I went outside earlier and saw a few cars getting stuck in the snow," he says. "Looking outside the weather is getting worse - it’s like a blizzard.”

    A red and white graffiti style logo reading Your Voice

  13. Here's what you need to know about Monday's snow

    People stand on a road, which has been gritted, shovelling snow away from the parked cars. There is a very thick layer of snow on top of the cars, meaning we cannot see anything but the tips of their wheels.Getty Images

    If you're just joining us, it's still mid-morning in the US where 22 inches (55.9cm) of snow has fallen overnight in parts of the east coast.

    A major nor'easter storm has brought blizzards and strong winds, including in New York City, which is under its first blizzard warning in nine years.

    Here's what else you need to know.

    • What is a nor'easter? These storms develop off the east coast of the US, made from strong areas of low pressure. They're really common storms but don't necessarily bring snow - or this much of it
    • Who's affected? Around 40 million people are under blizzard warnings in the US - including New York City, Boston and Philadelphia - and a further 19 million face winter storm warnings
    • That's led New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware and Rhode Island to declare states of emergency, resulting in travel bans across several cities and states
    • What about power? Hundreds of thousands are without power - including 240,000 households in Massachusetts and 135,000 in New Jersey - as electricity providers face "an absolute mess"
    • And schools? All New York City schools are closed on Monday, with hundreds more across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut and New Jersey
    • More travel disruption:Thousands of flights within, to or out of the US are cancelled today, including from UK airports, while "near impossible" travel conditions are expected in New York

    Our reporter Brandon Livesay is out in New York, where his neighbours are trying to fight the blizzards by shovelling snow away.

  14. For Matt, New York looks like a 'fairytale' - he just hopes he can fly home

    James Kelly
    UGC Hub

    Vehicles parked along a snow-covered street during a winter storm in the Brooklyn borough of New YorkBloomberg via Getty Images

    Matt Bowring is in New York with his family as part of a week's holiday in the US to mark his 50th birthday.

    Matt, from Barry in Wales, says the city looks like "a fairytale" but he is worried how they will get home. They are due to fly back to the UK tomorrow.

    "We've woken up this morning to a huge dumping of snow," he says. "The children are excited; we as parents are however a little concerned.

    "We're due to fly back to the UK tomorrow... We weren't expecting a snow bomb."

    As we have reported, thousands of flights have been cancelled due to the severe weather.

    "We have no idea when we'll be flying back as there will be a backlog of flights for Virgin and BA [British Airways] to make up," Matt says. "New York at 7am this morning does look like a fairytale."

    A red banner with the words ‘Your Voice’ written in white with a lighter red graphic paintbrush effect behind it

  15. Size of snowflakes can vary depending on temperature - with implications

    Chris Fawkes
    BBC Weather presenter

    A couple walk through a snow covered row of treesGetty Images

    Bigger snowflakes increase the chance of tree branches snapping

    Temperatures don't have to be below freezing for snow to fall, we can actually get snow with temperatures a few degrees above freezing.

    When this happens, some of the outer edges of individual snowflakes begin to melt and this can help snowflakes stick to one another resulting in huge flakes measuring several centimetres across.

    Large flakes like this can easily stick to tree branches and power lines which can then collapse under the burden of the extra weight. This becomes even more likely if it's also very windy.

    Much of the snow currently falling inland in the north-east of the US should consist of relatively small flakes because temperatures are well below freezing, typically between -7C and -3C (19F to 27F).

    Around the east coast temperatures are much closer to freezing leading to much bigger, chunkier snowflakes with a greater chance of snapping tree branches and power lines.

  16. In pictures: Skis and souvenir stands in snow-covered New York

    Here are some of the latest pictures coming in to us from New York City, where some are braving the outside despite the continuing blizzard.

    Parts of the city woke up to between eight and 15 inches of snow this morning.

    A man skis past shopfronts in Brooklyn.Getty Images

    A man skis through the streets of Brooklyn

    A mother and son walk along covered in snow, beside a yellow New York city taxi and aEPA/Shutterstock

    A woman and young boy brave the conditions after parts of the city woke up to between eight and 15 inches of snow

    A woman walks by a souvenir store in a blizzard in New YorkReuters

    This miniature Statue of Liberty withstands the icy conditions

  17. Storm brings power outages across north-east US

    Power outages are affecting thousands of households and businesses across north-east US. Below are the latest outage figures in key states, according to blackout tracker PowerOutage.us:

    • Massachusetts - 224,617
    • New Jersey - 137,608
    • New York - 17,440
    • Delaware - 75,210
    • Maryland - 29,553
    • Rhode Island - 42,204

    Ahead of the storm, Massachusetts governor Maura Healey warned residents to "prepare for the possibility of power outages by charging your devices and making sure you have a flashlight and batteries on hand".

  18. Snow storm brings major travel disruption across north-east US

    A bus is barely visible through thick snowReuters

    An MTA bus in New York City

    As a major winter storm hits parts of the north-east, local authorities and transport providers are urging people to avoid making journeys where possible. Here's a breakdown of the disruption:

    • NJ Transit, which operates in New Jersey, parts of New York state and Pennsylvania, says all train, bus, light rail and access link services are suspended until further notice
    • In New York City, some express subway trains are running on the local tracks, but the Metropolitan Transport Authority is warning of severe delays and advising customers to avoid travel. There are longer waits for local buses and articulated buses aren't running
    • In Connecticut, CT Transit has suspended all its bus services for the day, and says it hopes to restart them on Tuesday
    • Subway, bus and Commuter Rail services are operating on a reduced schedule in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority says. Ferry services are cancelled
    • The transport provider in Delaware, DART First State, has suspended all services statewide across Monday
    • And in Pennsylvania, all bus services are suspended until further notices, according to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). Regional rail has also been temporarily suspended. The Philadelphia metro is partially running, but with possible delays and cancellations
    • Over 5,400 flights to, from or within the US have been cancelled today, according to tracking website FlightAware

  19. Travel ban brings unusual calm to New York City streets

    Pratiksha Ghildial
    Reporting from New York City

    Streets in New York appear almost empty while a travel ban is in place

    New Yorkers have woken up to between 8 and 15 inches of snow and blizzard conditions are still continuing.

    It's unusually quiet on the streets as a travel ban stays in effect.

    A car is completely buried in snow

  20. More than 19 inches of snow in New Jersey

    More figures are coming through showing how much snowfall landed overnight in the US.

    "Blizzard conditions and crippling impacts will continue through much of today for the region," says the National Weather Service's prediction centre.

    The NWS shares the level of snowfall in more key cities as of 07:00 EST (12:00 GMT):

    • Atlantic City Airport, New Jersey: 14.5" (37 cm)
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 13.7" (35 cm)
    • Wilmington, North Carolina: 8.3" (21 cm)
    • Allentown, Pennsylvania:5.2" (13 cm)
    • Trenton, New Jersey:15.6" (40 cm)
    • Reading, Pennsylvania: 2.8" (7 cm)
    • Mount Holly, New Jersey: 19.2" (49 cm)