Boston warns of incoming 'intense' blizzard conditions, Boston Public Schools to close Monday

Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald on Feb 22, 2026

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An incoming blizzard is expected to become a potentially historic storm across areas of Massachusetts, bringing over a foot of heavy snow, massively destructive wind gusts, whiteout conditions, power outages and more, public officials warned Sunday.

“Unlike the last storm, which was a ton of snow that came down fast but was light fluffy and didn’t come with blizzard conditions,” Mayor Michelle Wu during a press update Sunday morning, “this time is going to be, as you heard, winds possibly up to 70 miles an hour; really heavy, wet snow; looking at power outages across the state. This is going to be even more intense.”

Snowfall is expected to begin Sunday night and last through late Monday in the Boston area, with the worst conditions coming around Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasts show “high confidence” of one to two feet of snow across eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and “more uncertainty” across western Massachusetts and Connecticut, NWS stated Sunday morning.

“We are very concerned for areas southeast of the Boston-Providence corridor where wet snow combines with northeast wind gusts of 60-70 mph,” NWS Boston posted. “Power outages and tree damage.”

Boston Public Schools will close Monday, including extracurriculars starting Sunday night, city officials said. City Hall and other municipal buildings, including libraries and BCYF centers, will also be closed.

Emergency shelters through the city and organizations like Pine Street Inn will be open and available for anyone needing to get inside.

Trash and recycling will also be delayed by one day in neighborhoods, and street sweeping on main arteries and commercial streets will be canceled until further notice, Wu added.

“This is a very serious storm that has the potential to be a historic nor’easter,” Wu said. “Because of that, we’re declaring a snow emergency and parking ban starting at 2 p.m. (Sunday). Starting at that time, all vehicles parked along snow emergency arteries will be towed.”

The mayor encouraged all residents to “do your part,” including staying inside and warm, checking on neighbors, not traveling when possible, reporting non-emergency situations to 311 or the 311 app, and reporting emergencies like people out in the snow to 911.

The rate of snowfall could be upwards of an inch to two inches an hours, creating whiteout conditions and very dangerous travel, Wu said. Over 900 plows and pieces of equipment were out as of Sunday morning, officials said, clearing snow in preparation for the onslaught.

More information can be found by signing up for Alert Boston notifications through phone, text or email, Wu said.

“Boston is no stranger to nor’easters, but this is going to be a big one,” Wu said. “We’ve dealt with them before, and we’re ready to work in close coordination with the state, the MBTA, our city partners and our community members to clear our roads and keep everyone safe.”

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