NYC's Worst Blizzard in a Decade, hour by hour

On February 22, 2026, New York City and New Jersey entered a state of emergency as the "Blizzard of 2026" began. With schools canceled and forecasts predicting up to 22 inches of snow and 50 mph wind gusts, the city prepared for a major weather event. The snowfall started at 11:30 a.m., though accumulation was initially slow, with only a fraction of an inch on the ground by late afternoon. During this early phase, the narrator shares practical advice for navigating the city, noting that while 4x4 vehicles are helpful, metal tire chains are the only reliable way to maintain traction and stop on thick ice. As night fell, the narrator remained skeptical of the emergency status, observing only about three inches of accumulation by 9:00 p.m. However, the storm intensified significantly overnight. By 6:00 a.m. the following morning, a run across the Brooklyn Bridge revealed strong winds and roughly a foot of snow. By noon, snowfall totals on the Upper West Side reached 18 inches. The narrator’s family took advantage of the heavy accumulation by sledding on Manhattan’s hills, even utilizing a makeshift rope "chairlift" system to pull the children back up the slopes. The blizzard concluded with a large snowball fight in Washington Square Park as the final flakes fell. However, the atmosphere turned tense when breaking news reported that several New York City police officers were injured by chunks of snow thrown by the crowd while they were responding to a call regarding people on a roof. Despite this conflict, the narrator reflects on the event as a "great blizzard," highlighting the unique experience of seeing the city streets silenced and transformed by the snow. The record of the day captures the transition from initial skepticism to the reality of a major winter storm that briefly turned the urban landscape into a massive playground.