Rhode Island saw several weather records tumble as a powerful nor’easter blasted the Northeast with heavy blizzard conditions, according to data from the National Weather Service (NWS).
The major winter storm prompted blizzard warnings and emergency declarations in multiple states—including New York and New Jersey—as well severe power outages and travel disruptions.
“The blizzard of 2026 broke multiple snowfall records at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Providence,” the agency said.
The storm’s 37.9‑inch total set a record for a single snowstorm, comfortably topping the 28.6 inches from the 1978 blizzard on February 6–7.
A daily snowfall of 35.5 inches also surpassed the one‑day record of 19 inches, set during the 1996 blizzard on January 8.
The NWS added that the same 35.5‑inch total shattered the February 23 daily record, previously just 3.8 inches in 1967.
Elsewhere, the system also brought major snow totals to nearby states including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, according to NWS data.
In New York, Central Islip recorded 31 inches of snow during the event. Montauk saw 28.1 inches, while Remsenburg-Speonk and North Patchogue recorded 27.5 and 27.2 inches, respectively.
In New Jersey, NWS data shows that Bogata received 29.5 inches of snow, while Newark Airport recorded 27.1 inches.
As for Massachusetts, Bliss Corner has recorded 37 inches of snow, Berkley 31 inches, and Boston Logan International Airport 16.9 inches, according to NWS data.
The Rhode Island’s local NWS office said that much lighter snow is expected Wednesday as a clipper system passes the area.
“Light snowfall then develops after midnight Wednesday into at least mid morning,” it said. “Snow then expected to mix with, and eventually change to, rain across the lower elevations.”
This system “will swing across the north-central U.S. today, bringing a burst of heavy snow to the Great Lakes region,” the Weather Prediction Center said in a Tuesday forecast. “As the system pushes east tonight into Wednesday, heavy snow will come to an end across the Great Lakes and snow showers will spread into the northern Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.”
Following this, another storm system is expected to enter the Midwest Wednesday night before pushing into the eastern U.S. from Thursday into Thursday night, AccuWeather forecasters said in an email sent to Newsweek on Tuesday. Snow may form north of its track, while areas on the southern edge could see a mix of rain, snow, and ice, the outlet said.
