The storm, described by the National Weather Service (NWS) as a major nor’easter, brought nearly 37 inches (94 cm) of snow to parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In New York City, more than 19 inches were recorded in Central Park.
Weather alerts stretched from North Carolina to northern Maine, with additional warnings issued for parts of eastern Canada as the system moved northward.
More than 600,000 properties across the region experienced power outages at the height of the storm. Travel was severely disrupted, with several states imposing temporary bans on nonessential movement during the most intense period of snowfall.
Rhode Island appeared to be the hardest hit. Local media reported it was the most severe snowstorm in the state’s history. In the capital, Providence, snowfall reached 36 inches (91 cm), surpassing the previous single-storm record of 28.6 inches set in February 1978.
Authorities in Rhode Island and neighboring Connecticut introduced travel bans to reduce risks. Later, Maura Healey, Governor of Massachusetts, also imposed restrictions, warning residents of “white-out conditions” that significantly reduced visibility and made travel extremely dangerous.
“If you get stuck, help will have a hard time reaching you,” she said, urging residents to stay off the roads.
The impact extended beyond transportation and power supply. The Boston Globe announced it would not publish a print edition for the first time in its 153-year history due to the storm.
Although the nor’easter has now moved away from the United States and into coastal eastern Canada, forecasters say strong winds are expected to persist, with additional snowfall of up to 1–2 feet (30–61cm) forecast in some northeastern coastal areas.
Residents across the region described being effectively confined to their homes. One Boston resident said the storm left him feeling like a “prisoner” as snowdrifts and hazardous conditions brought daily life to a standstill.
