Severe Winter Storm Hits Great Lakes and Northeast Following Bomb Cyclone

Sun Feb 15 2026 03:41:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A fierce winter storm, following a recent bomb cyclone, brings heavy snowfall and harsh winds to the Great Lakes and Northeast, leaving thousands without power and creating travel hazards.

A significant winter storm that followed a bomb cyclone impacted the Great Lakes and Northeast regions on Tuesday, bringing hazardous conditions including strong winds, heavy snowfall, and extreme cold. Almost 153,000 people lost power, mainly in Michigan, while travel disruptions occurred across affected states. Authorities are warning residents to avoid unnecessary travel amid worsening weather conditions.

A wild winter storm was expected to bring strong winds, heavy snow, and frigid temperatures to the Great Lakes and Northeast on Tuesday, just a day after a bomb cyclone barreled across the northern U.S. and left tens of thousands of customers without power.

The storm that hit parts of the Plains and Great Lakes on Monday brought sharply colder air and a mix of snow, ice, and rain that led to treacherous travel. Forecasters said it intensified quickly enough to meet the criteria of a bomb cyclone, characterized by rapid strengthening due to dropping pressure.

Nationwide, more than 153,000 customers were without power early Tuesday, with over a third of these cases reported in Michigan, according to data from Poweroutage.us.

As Monday's storm advanced into Canada, the National Weather Service predicted further inclement weather for the Eastern U.S, warning residents to expect quick bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds commonly referred to as snow squalls.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned of impending whiteout conditions on Tuesday in parts of the state, notably in the Syracuse metro area.

“If you’re in an impacted area, please avoid all unnecessary travel,” Hochul advised in a social media post.

Snow accumulated rapidly in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on Monday, where some areas received up to 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snowfall, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologist Ryan Metzger indicated additional snow was expected in the coming days, albeit with lighter totals.

The storm's aftermath left waves on Lake Superior reaching up to 20 feet (6 meters), forcing nearly all cargo ships into safe harbor, as reported by MarineTraffic.com. Weather forecasting has significantly improved since the tragic sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975, when waves were last predicted to be around 16 feet (4.8 meters).

In Iowa, blizzard conditions from the previous day remained, leading to hundreds of miles of Interstate 35 being closed due to high winds pushing snow across roadways, with several accidents reported, including a fatality.

On the West Coast, the National Weather Service issued warnings for strong Santa Ana winds in Southern California, creating concerns over potential downed trees and power lines in areas that have experienced recent storms. They anticipate two additional storms may arrive later this week.

___

Associated Press writers contributed to this article.