Record snowfall in Providence, Rhode Island, as Nor’easter death toll reaches four

A late February Nor’easter set a new all-time single-storm snowfall record at Providence, Rhode Island’s airport, where 96.3 cm (37.9 inches) was measured at 01:31 EST on February 24, 2026. At least four fatalities were confirmed in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

The National Weather Service Boston/Norton, MA office confirmed that the late February Nor’easter (dubbed the Blizzard of 2026) set multiple new snowfall records in Providence. The storm total of 96.3 cm (37.9 inches) set a new record for the highest single snowstorm total at the airport on February 24, breaking the previous record of 72.6 cm (28.6 inches) measured on February 6–7, 1978.

It also set a new one-day snowfall record of 90.2 cm (35.5 inches), breaking the previous one-day record of 48.3 cm (19 inches), set on January 8, 1996. Meanwhile, New Jersey was also under the state-wide Blizzard Warning for the first time since 1996. Both of these events surpassed the conditions during the blizzard of 96, which is estimated to have claimed around 200 lives.

Meanwhile, 90.2 cm (35.5 inches) measured on February 23 established a new record snowfall for that calendar date, surpassing the previous February 23 record of 9.7 cm (3.8 inches) set in 1967. Snowfall rates reached over 5 cm (2 inches) per hour at times in and around Providence, and gusts reached 95 to 115 km/h (60 to 70 mph).

Visibility fell below 400 m (1 300 feet) while the combination of high snowfall intensity and strong winds produced extensive drifting, with some secondary roads becoming impassable.

The storm has claimed at least 2 lives in Maryland after a tree fell onto a moving vehicle in Calvert County on February 22.

Meanwhile, two fatalities were confirmed after a multivehicle collision in Lower Nazareth on February 22.

While it is unclear whether the crash was associated with the storm or not, snow was falling when the crash occurred, and the roads in the area were wet, according to Colonial Regional police Chief James DePalma, reported The Morning Call. While the first fatality was confirmed on the scene, the second was confirmed on February 23.

The storm is forecast to move away from the United States through February 24, tracking along the Canadian Maritimes. Gusty winds are expected to persist across the Northeast through the morning hours, then winds will gradually decrease through this evening as the system moves further away, according to the NWS.

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Feature image credit: Abimael Castro

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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