Winter Storm Hernando Loosens Its Grip, but Northeast Faces Lingering Wind, Ice and Disruptions

A historic storm starts to move on, but hazards remain

Winter Storm Hernando began loosening its grip on the Northeast late Monday, with the heaviest snow largely finished in many locations. But the storm was not done. Strong winds continued to blow overnight, keeping the risk of dangerous whiteout conditions alive as snow drifted back across roads that had already been plowed. For thousands of residents still without electricity, the combination of frigid air and prolonged outages remained a central concern.

Officials across the region continued to urge caution. Even as snowfall rates eased and some warnings expired, the message from emergency managers and local leaders was consistent: avoid travel if at all possible, and if travel is unavoidable, allow extra time and proceed carefully.

The storm, described as a “bomb cyclone,” was associated with at least two deaths. Emergency declarations were issued by governors in seven states, and winter weather alerts extended beyond the hardest-hit corridor. The immediate impacts were severe, but many communities were also preparing for secondary problems—ice from partial melting and refreezing, lingering wind damage, and a backlog of closures and cancellations that could keep the region disrupted into Tuesday.

What changed Monday night: less snow, more wind-driven risk

By Monday evening, forecasters indicated that the most intense snowfall from Hernando had ended, but the wind threat persisted across the Northeast. That matters because drifting snow can reduce visibility to near zero, even when new snow is no longer falling. In exposed areas, the combination of wind and existing snowpack can effectively recreate blizzard-like conditions.

Some blizzard warnings along the coastal Northeast were set to expire Monday evening, including for major cities such as New York and Portland, Maine, as snowfall tapered. Boston, however, was among the places expected to hold onto blizzard conditions longer, with warnings extending into early Tuesday morning.

Coastal flooding was another concern that began to ease but did not disappear entirely. The peak threat was reported to have occurred during the day Monday, yet early Tuesday’s high tide could still push some monitoring sites along the Northeast coast back into “action stage” or minor flood stage, according to NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.

Power outages: signs of improvement, but the scale remains large

One of the first encouraging signs late Monday was that power outage totals began to drop for the first time since the storm started. Still, the overall numbers remained high, and the most heavily affected areas continued to face difficult conditions from heavy snow and powerful wind.

Massachusetts remained the hardest-hit state. At one point, more than 282,000 customers were without power, representing roughly half of all outages linked to the storm. Later updates noted outages nearing 290,000 across the state. New Jersey followed with about 93,000 outages reported.

Across the broader region, the outage picture was even more stark. More than 650,000 customers were reported without power nationwide, with Massachusetts leading, followed by New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island and Maryland. With roads nearly impassable in some places and heavy snow still falling in parts of the corridor, officials warned that restoration could take time.

On Nantucket, the potential for long-lasting outages was underscored by footage showing power poles coated in snow, snapped and lying along roads. Heavy, wet snow can add weight to trees and infrastructure, while strong winds can compound the stress—an especially challenging combination for utility crews trying to work in hazardous conditions.

Travel: restrictions, slick roads and a long dig-out

Even where travel bans were lifted, travel remained difficult. In New York City, officials said every street had been plowed at least once. Yet with snow still falling earlier in the day and winds whipping it around, roads could appear as though crews had not been through—one reason plows continued to make repeated rounds.

A citywide travel ban in New York City was lifted, but officials warned that roads were still slick. The concern was not only fresh snow but what comes next: partial melting followed by refreezing, which can turn slushy streets into sheets of ice. Meteorologists warned that travel could remain difficult for days as temperatures hovered around freezing and conditions fluctuated.

Massachusetts took a stricter approach in some areas. Governor Maura Healey issued an immediate ban on all non-essential motor vehicle travel in the southern coast of the state, and a 40 mph speed limit was put in effect on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Officials described road conditions as life-threatening, with visibility at or near zero. In some places, rescue operations were suspended as crews struggled to keep up.

Elsewhere, the storm’s impact was visible in scenes of cars buried under thick snow in New Jersey and sidewalks being cleared near major transportation hubs in New York City. In Massachusetts, heavy snow brought down trees, creating hazards on roadways and complicating travel further.

Snow totals and records: Rhode Island stands out

Snowfall totals across the region were notable, with some locations reporting rates and accumulations that put records in jeopardy. Providence’s T.F. Green Airport reported a two-day snowfall total of 32.8 inches, described as the snowiest two days on record there, surpassing the previous record of 28.6 inches from the “Blizzard of ’78.” The airport also reported 30.4 inches in a single day, breaking a prior one-day record of 19 inches that ended Jan. 8, 1996.

In Providence, reports described snow falling at roughly 4 inches per hour at times, with a snow depth change of about 32 inches since the storm began. Local media also reported that some smaller plows were getting stuck in the heavy snow—an illustration of how difficult it can be to clear dense, wet accumulation when snowfall rates are extreme.

New York City’s Central Park recorded just over 15 inches of snow, the city’s heaviest snowstorm in more than five years, since a 17.4-inch event from late January into early February 2021. Forecasters noted that if the city added another 2.4 inches, Hernando would become the heaviest snowstorm since the city’s 27.5-inch record event in late January 2016.

Snowfall intensity, not just total accumulation, played a major role in impacts. Reports cited snowfall rates of about 1 inch per hour at LaGuardia Airport and 2 inches per hour at JFK International Airport. The National Weather Service office in Upton, Long Island, reported a 3-inch-per-hour rate earlier in the day. Providence was reported to have picked up almost 14 inches in just six hours.

Blizzard conditions: what the definition means in practice

With blizzard warnings posted for major cities, forecasters emphasized that a blizzard is not simply “a big snowstorm.” The National Weather Service definition requires specific criteria to occur simultaneously. Importantly, blizzard conditions can occur even without new snow falling. If winds remain strong enough to blow and drift existing snow, visibility can still drop to dangerous levels.

That distinction mattered Monday night. Even as the heaviest snow ended, continuing wind across the Northeast meant that drifting snow could still create sudden whiteouts, especially in areas less protected from wind.

Why it was called a “bomb cyclone”

Hernando’s rapid intensification was a defining feature. A bomb cyclone can resemble a hurricane on satellite imagery, with a dramatic spinning shape and powerful winds. But the underlying mechanics are different. Hurricanes feed on warm, tropical waters and have a warm core. Bomb cyclones form when a low-pressure system strengthens rapidly—often at higher latitudes—when cold air meets warmer ocean waters, producing a cold-core system.

Forecasters reported that Hernando’s central pressure drop was about 40 millibars in 12 hours, exceeding the threshold typically used to classify a storm as a bomb cyclone. It reportedly met the requirement in about nine hours. While its central pressure was compared to that of a Category 2 hurricane, meteorologists stressed that it remained cold-core rather than warm-core.

Schools and public services: closures, then a cautious reopening

The storm closed dozens of school districts across the Northeast, including some of the nation’s largest systems. New York City and Boston were among those impacted. In New York City, public schools were set to reopen Tuesday, the mayor announced Monday afternoon. The closure was described as the city’s first true, traditional snow day with no remote learning since before the pandemic in 2019.

Boston-area districts also announced cancellations for Tuesday in some locations, reflecting the ongoing difficulty of travel and cleanup in parts of New England. In New York City, the Department of Sanitation supplemented plowing with hundreds of emergency snow shovelers overnight. They cleared crosswalks, fire hydrants and bus stops, according to reported figures, supporting the city’s push to restore basic mobility.

Air travel disruptions spread far beyond the storm zone

Hernando’s ripple effects extended well outside the Northeast. Nationwide, more than 9,900 flights were canceled since the storm began, with hundreds more already canceled for the following day. Another update put the figure above 10,000 cancellations from yesterday through tomorrow in the U.S., including more than 5,300 cancellations in a single day and about 1,300 already canceled for the next day.

The disruptions were not limited to airports in the storm’s direct path. Salt Lake City, for example, saw more than 40 flight cancellations tied to the storm, even though local weather there was forecast to be sunny with highs in the 50s. The example illustrated how a major East Coast storm can cascade through airline networks, affecting aircraft positioning and crew schedules across the country.

Road safety and emergency response: Maryland’s heavy call volume

Maryland offered a snapshot of how quickly conditions can overwhelm roads and emergency services. Maryland State Police reported handling more than 1,190 calls for service and responding to nearly 343 crashes as snow made roads slick. Around 4 inches fell in Baltimore, with parts of Baltimore County seeing close to 5 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Nearly 30% of police calls came from Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where a blizzard warning remained in effect through Monday evening due to strong wind gusts. The combination of snow, wind and reduced visibility can make even modest accumulations dangerous, particularly when temperatures hover near freezing and surfaces glaze over.

Authorities also reported a deadly incident in Calvert County. Deputies said they responded to a serious crash Sunday afternoon in which two passengers were found dead and one person was in critical condition. Early findings indicated a tree, weighed down after up to five inches of snow fell in the area, toppled into the roadway and struck the vehicle.

Heavy, wet snow: a different kind of strain

Not all snow behaves the same. With temperatures hovering around or just below freezing, meteorologists noted that the air can hold more moisture, producing heavier, wetter snow. This dense snow can weigh down trees and power lines, contributing to outages and damage. It also makes digging out more physically demanding.

Forecasters highlighted the risks associated with shoveling heavy, wet snow, sometimes nicknamed “heart-attack snow” because of the strain it can place on the body. Residents were urged to take extra care when clearing driveways and sidewalks, especially in areas where accumulation was deep and ongoing.

What to watch next: ice, tides and the long cleanup

As Hernando pulled away from the coast, the immediate threat in some areas began to shift from heavy snowfall to lingering wind, drifting snow and the risk of ice. Partial melting during daylight hours followed by refreezing at night can create hazardous conditions even after plows have passed. In urban areas, this can turn intersections, bus stops and sidewalks into slick trouble spots.

Along the coast, officials continued to monitor the early Tuesday high tide for renewed minor flooding concerns at some sites. And across the region, the practical reality of recovery—clearing streets, restoring power, reopening schools and resuming transportation—was expected to take time.

For residents, the guidance remained straightforward: stay alert for local announcements, limit travel when possible, and prepare for disruptions that may persist even as the storm’s center moves away.

Key impacts at a glance

• Lingering hazards: Strong winds and drifting snow continued after the heaviest snowfall ended, sustaining near-whiteout risks in some areas.
• Power outages: Outages began to decline late Monday but remained widespread, with Massachusetts and New Jersey among the hardest hit.
• Travel restrictions: Officials urged avoiding travel; Massachusetts imposed a ban on non-essential travel in parts of the state and reduced speed limits on the Massachusetts Turnpike.
• Record-setting snow: Providence’s T.F. Green Airport reported 32.8 inches over two days and 30.4 inches in one day, both records there.
• Nationwide disruptions: Flight cancellations exceeded 9,900 and later topped 10,000 over a multi-day period, with effects reaching beyond the Northeast.

Winter Storm Hernando may have begun to ease by late Monday, but its footprint—snow-packed streets, downed trees, widespread outages and a tangled web of cancellations—ensured that for many communities, the hardest work was only beginning.