Two dead after winter storm hammers the US northeast

February 24, 2026

A devastating winter blizzard swept through the northeastern United States, causing two fatalities in Maryland when a tree collapsed onto their vehicle. The historic storm dumped record-breaking snowfall in several areas, with Providence, Rhode Island receiving nearly 38 inches—the most in the city's history—while New York City experienced its ninth-largest winter storm with over 20 inches. The severe weather resulted in massive transportation disruptions, with thousands of flight cancellations at major airports and travel restrictions imposed across multiple states.

Who is affected

Michael Simpson, 60, and Virginia Quesenberry, 43 (killed in Maryland)
250,000 Massachusetts residents without power as of Tuesday morning
Residents of Scituate, Massachusetts (half the town without electricity)
Air travelers (over 7,000 flights cancelled Monday-Tuesday, nearly 1,000 delayed)
Students and families in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania
Boston Globe readers (no printed newspaper deliveries)
Residents of Providence, Rhode Island; New York City; Boston; Maryland; New Jersey; and Pennsylvania

What action is being taken

2,600 sanitation workers are plowing roads in New York City
1,400 emergency snow shovelers are clearing sidewalks and bus stops in New York City
Travel bans remain in place for Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts
School closures continue in Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts
Power companies are working to restore electricity

Why it matters

This historic blizzard represents one of the most significant winter storms in northeastern US history, with Providence experiencing its largest snowfall ever recorded and New York City facing its ninth-biggest winter storm. The severe impacts—including fatalities, quarter-million people without power, thousands of flight cancellations, and unprecedented disruptions like the Boston Globe's first printing halt in 153 years—demonstrate the storm's exceptional severity and its ability to paralyze critical infrastructure across one of America's most densely populated regions.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC