Southern New England is getting absolutely buried.
Nearly every reporting station across the region met blizzard criteria early this morning as whiteout conditions, strong winds and steady snowfall reduced visibility and made travel treacherous.
And it’s not over yet.
The worst of the storm is expected to rage through mid-day as snow continues to pile up and winds howl with near-hurricane force intensity.
At least a half-dozen locations clocked hurricane-force gusts — 74 mph or higher — from Long Island to southeastern New England. Montauk Point topped the list at a staggering 84 mph. Nantucket wasn’t far behind at 83 mph. In Newport, gusts have reached 69 mph, whipping snow sideways and rattling homes along the coast.
The strongest winds are hammering waterfront communities, where air races freely over the ocean with little friction to slow it down. Inland areas, shielded by terrain and buildings, are seeing slightly less ferocious gusts — but they’re still brutal.
Air travel has come to a standstill. Not a single flight has taken off from the three major New York City airports, or from Boston, Providence or Philadelphia in the past 12 hours, according to FlightAware.
This “Historic Blizzard of 2026” is shaping up to live up to its name. Forecasters say two to three feet of snow could blanket Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts by evening.
Tens of thousands across Southern New England are already in the dark. As of noon, 20% of Newport County is without power as heavy snow and violent winds snap tree limbs and down power lines.
Rhode Island remains under a statewide travel ban. Only snowplows and emergency vehicles are permitted on the roads.
“This storm is significant,” Gov. Dan McKee said. “It’s one of the most impactful storms we’ve seen in several years, and I’m asking for Rhode Islanders to take this storm seriously.”
A bomb cyclone-fueled nor’easter is now in full fury — and Southern New England is still squarely in its crosshairs.
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